Darren Gasser
@dgasser.bsky.social
Tech guy who mostly rambles about politics and random news here.
I was just thinking to myself "it's weird that I keep thinking it's Wednesday today when it's only Tuesday."
It is, in fact, Wednesday.
Might be time to log off, have more caffeine, or...something.
It is, in fact, Wednesday.
Might be time to log off, have more caffeine, or...something.
November 20, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I was just thinking to myself "it's weird that I keep thinking it's Wednesday today when it's only Tuesday."
It is, in fact, Wednesday.
Might be time to log off, have more caffeine, or...something.
It is, in fact, Wednesday.
Might be time to log off, have more caffeine, or...something.
Apparently Americans aren’t alone in being completely ignorant of things their country does if they’re even slightly out of sight.
holy shit: “Among the 2,000 UK adults surveyed, 85% were unaware that Britain forcibly transported more than 3 million Africans to the Caribbean, 89% did not know that Britain enslaved people in the Caribbean for more than 300 years” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Caribbean reparations leaders in ‘historic’ first UK visit to press for justice
CRC mission will seek to deepen public understanding of Britain’s colonial legacy and its lasting impact
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Apparently Americans aren’t alone in being completely ignorant of things their country does if they’re even slightly out of sight.
Reposted by Darren Gasser
Rudy Bridges is younger than the Sitting President of the United States and 29 sitting United States Senators
It’s useful for people of my generation to be reminded that this wasn’t that long ago. Ruby Bridges isn’t just still alive—she’s only 71, not ancient!
65 years ago on Nov. 14, little Ruby Bridges was escorted into an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. Norman Rockwell, renowned for blissful depictions of Americana, did this remarkable painting for Look magazine. Printed as a double page, over-size spread, it's his masterpiece.
November 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Rudy Bridges is younger than the Sitting President of the United States and 29 sitting United States Senators
Reposted by Darren Gasser
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Reposted by Darren Gasser
I see the “technically it’s ephebophelia” crowd is out today, so just a reminder that A) this is NOT a case where technically correct is the best kind of correct and B) the minute you say this, the gods dump you in the “irredeemable creeper” basket and wash their hands thoroughly after touching you.
November 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I see the “technically it’s ephebophelia” crowd is out today, so just a reminder that A) this is NOT a case where technically correct is the best kind of correct and B) the minute you say this, the gods dump you in the “irredeemable creeper” basket and wash their hands thoroughly after touching you.
Reposted by Darren Gasser
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
November 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
"America doesn't fight religious wars - that's why I like living there." -Gust Avrokotos
Not good.
November 6, 2025 at 1:08 AM
"America doesn't fight religious wars - that's why I like living there." -Gust Avrokotos
Reposted by Darren Gasser
The lesson here is have good principles and stand on them. Stand for something that isn't power!
Zohran at the rally for trans youth on february 8 ❣️ he was polling single digits.
November 5, 2025 at 2:59 AM
The lesson here is have good principles and stand on them. Stand for something that isn't power!
Reposted by Darren Gasser
“A transport grid designed for steady detainee transfers” is, quite literally, the EXACT phenomenon that Hannah Arendt was referring to when she coined the phrase “the banality of evil.”
NEW: ICE is planning to build a shadow deportation network in Texas. A proposal outlines a 24/7 transport operation run by armed contractors—turning Texas into the logistical backbone of an industrialized deportation machine.
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
October 31, 2025 at 2:19 AM
“A transport grid designed for steady detainee transfers” is, quite literally, the EXACT phenomenon that Hannah Arendt was referring to when she coined the phrase “the banality of evil.”
Reposted by Darren Gasser
imma start calling Palantir “Hufflepuff”
once again if you brought him back and told him what people were doing to his work J.R.R. Tolkien would buy a gun
“Join the Shirriffs! Serve the Big Chief! Arrest your neighbors! Scour the Shire!”
October 30, 2025 at 3:30 AM
imma start calling Palantir “Hufflepuff”
Yikes. More and more lights blinking red.
Amazon announces they are laying off the largest amount of workers ever in the company’s history.
30,000+ workers will lose their jobs.
30,000+ workers will lose their jobs.
October 28, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Yikes. More and more lights blinking red.
I'm glad people are starting to actively discuss this. During the dot-com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis I felt I had a good idea what the tech industry would look like on the other side.
This time I have no idea what comes next after the house of cards falls.
This time I have no idea what comes next after the house of cards falls.
It's not going to be fun when the bubble pops (and it won't even make AI go away). Disaster capitalism will be ready.
I think we need to figure out what it would mean for us to get ready in turn.
I think we need to figure out what it would mean for us to get ready in turn.
There's been endless talk about an AI bubble, but less about exactly how, why, and how much it's a bubble. So I turned to the framework put forward by scholars Brent Goldfarb and David A. Kirsch, authors of "Bubbles and Crashes," for assessing tech bubbles.
Spoiler: On a scale of 1 to 8, AI is an 8
Spoiler: On a scale of 1 to 8, AI is an 8
October 27, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I'm glad people are starting to actively discuss this. During the dot-com bubble and the 2008 financial crisis I felt I had a good idea what the tech industry would look like on the other side.
This time I have no idea what comes next after the house of cards falls.
This time I have no idea what comes next after the house of cards falls.
Sommelier General sounds like a groovy gig.
The French Army’s wine stock before the Battle of Gallipoli, Dardanelles Campaign. The Dardanelles Campaign of 1915/16 was a failed WWI military campaign in modern Turkey Gelibolu. The Entente powers, Britain, France and Russia, sought to take control of the Turkish straits.
October 27, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Sommelier General sounds like a groovy gig.
Old enough to remember the "Microserfs" story of how early Microsoft made a business model out of overworking and burning out young engineers through stuff not even 1/4 as stupid as this.
30 years later and too many companies are still failing to learn basic lessons about project management.
30 years later and too many companies are still failing to learn basic lessons about project management.
Absolutely obsessed with framing your employees sleeping on the floor as a humble brag
“Look how hard my team works” no dude you’re just bad at project management.
Competent companies ship products without cosplaying being homeless
“Look how hard my team works” no dude you’re just bad at project management.
Competent companies ship products without cosplaying being homeless
October 23, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Old enough to remember the "Microserfs" story of how early Microsoft made a business model out of overworking and burning out young engineers through stuff not even 1/4 as stupid as this.
30 years later and too many companies are still failing to learn basic lessons about project management.
30 years later and too many companies are still failing to learn basic lessons about project management.
Reposted by Darren Gasser
I'm not sure you can get more marie antoinette than taking away food stamps before thanksgiving while you build a gold and marble dance hall so the other crooks can bring bribe you over a badly-cooked (argentinian) steak
October 22, 2025 at 11:53 AM
I'm not sure you can get more marie antoinette than taking away food stamps before thanksgiving while you build a gold and marble dance hall so the other crooks can bring bribe you over a badly-cooked (argentinian) steak
Miller must be pushing hard for martial law.
Trump: "I'm allowed as you know as president, like 50% of the presidents have used the Insurrection Act. Everybody agrees you're allowed to use that and there is no more court cases, there is no more anything. We're trying to do it in a nicer manner, but we can always use the Insurrection Act."
October 20, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Miller must be pushing hard for martial law.
Portland is justifiably proud of their improv theater chops, but California still has all the designers, directors, and cinematographers.
Protesters formed a human banner Saturday morning at S.F.'s Ocean Beach, spelling out “NO KINGS” and “YES ON 50,” encouraging the passage of a measure on the November ballot to redraw California’s congressional districts in response to Texas’ GOP-focused remapping.
📸: Laure Andrillon / AFP
📸: Laure Andrillon / AFP
October 19, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Portland is justifiably proud of their improv theater chops, but California still has all the designers, directors, and cinematographers.
Reposted by Darren Gasser
npr: so, no kings
tyrannosaurus rex: yes
npr: how shall I put this
trex: this interview is over
tyrannosaurus rex: yes
npr: how shall I put this
trex: this interview is over
October 18, 2025 at 9:03 PM
npr: so, no kings
tyrannosaurus rex: yes
npr: how shall I put this
trex: this interview is over
tyrannosaurus rex: yes
npr: how shall I put this
trex: this interview is over
Yikes.
Amazon’s Ring now works with video surveillance company Flock
Amazon’s Ring now works with video surveillance company Flock
The partnership allows police agencies who use Flock software to request footage from Ring users in the Neighbors app.
buff.ly
October 17, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Yikes.
I hope you’re listening, @gavinnewsom.bsky.social
This is the future of the party, not the consultant-driven triangulation we hear from guys like you
This is the future of the party, not the consultant-driven triangulation we hear from guys like you
This is a Democratic Party I could actually believe in and be proud of. Radically inclusive, welcoming, joyful, respectful, and full of hope.
Until It's Done: Sylvia Rivera
YouTube video by Zohran Mamdani for NYC
m.youtube.com
October 11, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I hope you’re listening, @gavinnewsom.bsky.social
This is the future of the party, not the consultant-driven triangulation we hear from guys like you
This is the future of the party, not the consultant-driven triangulation we hear from guys like you
Wait. Turning in your ballot early reduces the amount of text spam and junk mail?
How did I not know this?
How did I not know this?
CALIFORNIANS!!!!
You’re gonna start getting your ballots. Vote YES for prop/ state measure 50, (it will be titled differently in different counties.)
Vote as soon as you get your ballot so that phone calls and texts can be directed to people who need more convincing.
1/
You’re gonna start getting your ballots. Vote YES for prop/ state measure 50, (it will be titled differently in different counties.)
Vote as soon as you get your ballot so that phone calls and texts can be directed to people who need more convincing.
1/
October 5, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Wait. Turning in your ballot early reduces the amount of text spam and junk mail?
How did I not know this?
How did I not know this?
Reposted by Darren Gasser
been struggling with how to articulate this for a while now, but it's a big part of what's going on now. i don't want to marinate in my own resentments, and certainly not in theirs. i don't want to work through someone else's daddy or mommy issues. it stinks!
I personally do not want to live in a bunch of stupid racists' potemkin reality
We laugh at this shit -- I mean, how can you not? -- but it's serious: these guys want to infuse reactionary thinking into AI and then infuse AI into every nook & cranny of American life. They can't win the argument so they are trying to blunt-force their views onto us with money & power.
October 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
been struggling with how to articulate this for a while now, but it's a big part of what's going on now. i don't want to marinate in my own resentments, and certainly not in theirs. i don't want to work through someone else's daddy or mommy issues. it stinks!
AND MAYBE A BIT OF A NAP LATER
I'm starting to wonder if the ridiculously over-wrought fascism is secretly helping them because it's so hard to take seriously.
I still think we should laugh heartily at these weenies.
I'm starting to wonder if the ridiculously over-wrought fascism is secretly helping them because it's so hard to take seriously.
I still think we should laugh heartily at these weenies.
NEXT ARRIVES THE HOUR OF LIGHT SNACK AND RETURN SOME EMAILS. THEN SOX-YANKEES.
October 1, 2025 at 8:02 PM
AND MAYBE A BIT OF A NAP LATER
I'm starting to wonder if the ridiculously over-wrought fascism is secretly helping them because it's so hard to take seriously.
I still think we should laugh heartily at these weenies.
I'm starting to wonder if the ridiculously over-wrought fascism is secretly helping them because it's so hard to take seriously.
I still think we should laugh heartily at these weenies.
Soviet-style political officers in units when?
October 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Soviet-style political officers in units when?