Martin The Mess aka Big Brother
@martinthemess.bsky.social
Science Fiction, Science Fact, History and Alternate History, Humor and Political Philosophy. Always Watching. Formerly @Back2Babylon5 on that other place with the Musky odor.
Jack Flack always escapes.
November 11, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Jack Flack always escapes.
Ya know how a lot of office jobs were temporarily work-from-home during COVID? And how a lot of call-center and back-office work has been outsourced to India and the Philippines? And how AI is doing its damnedest to replace the rest? Unions won't have a lot of "can't replace ALL of us" leverage.
November 11, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Ya know how a lot of office jobs were temporarily work-from-home during COVID? And how a lot of call-center and back-office work has been outsourced to India and the Philippines? And how AI is doing its damnedest to replace the rest? Unions won't have a lot of "can't replace ALL of us" leverage.
Requirements stiffened a bit after 2008/2009 crash, but they're still no where near as tough to get a mortgage than back in the early 70s or so. That's why housing prices have risen vs. income, they *could* thanks to mortgages being easier to get with lower income.
November 11, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Requirements stiffened a bit after 2008/2009 crash, but they're still no where near as tough to get a mortgage than back in the early 70s or so. That's why housing prices have risen vs. income, they *could* thanks to mortgages being easier to get with lower income.
Back then, the homes were cheaper vs. average income. But you had to put down a 33% down payment to get a mortgage, plus lots of other requirements most people couldn't meet. House prices rose because deregulation made it a LOT easier to get a mortgage: by 2000, down payments were 5% or less.
November 11, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Back then, the homes were cheaper vs. average income. But you had to put down a 33% down payment to get a mortgage, plus lots of other requirements most people couldn't meet. House prices rose because deregulation made it a LOT easier to get a mortgage: by 2000, down payments were 5% or less.
Working in a factory became a middle-class job thanks to unions. Then thanks to cheaper transportation technology, automation, and lower barriers to international trade, it became a *lot* cheaper to hire poor foreigners to do factory work than pay middle-class US/UK wages. And those jobs vanished.
November 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Working in a factory became a middle-class job thanks to unions. Then thanks to cheaper transportation technology, automation, and lower barriers to international trade, it became a *lot* cheaper to hire poor foreigners to do factory work than pay middle-class US/UK wages. And those jobs vanished.
"I wouldn't join any club that would have me for a member." -- Groucho Marx
Part of the joke being, the Marx Brothers were Jewish, at a time when Country Clubs and other social-elite organizations often openly banned Jews from membership. Especially the "better" ones.
Part of the joke being, the Marx Brothers were Jewish, at a time when Country Clubs and other social-elite organizations often openly banned Jews from membership. Especially the "better" ones.
November 11, 2025 at 5:31 AM
"I wouldn't join any club that would have me for a member." -- Groucho Marx
Part of the joke being, the Marx Brothers were Jewish, at a time when Country Clubs and other social-elite organizations often openly banned Jews from membership. Especially the "better" ones.
Part of the joke being, the Marx Brothers were Jewish, at a time when Country Clubs and other social-elite organizations often openly banned Jews from membership. Especially the "better" ones.
A political party is definitionally a conspiracy to take over the government. In the age of Dark Money, they are also conspiracies to solicit bribes. I sometimes daydream of someone sending the FBI to arrest the top leaders of both major parties under RICO laws. Sadly, unlikely, or a worse idea.
November 11, 2025 at 4:45 AM
A political party is definitionally a conspiracy to take over the government. In the age of Dark Money, they are also conspiracies to solicit bribes. I sometimes daydream of someone sending the FBI to arrest the top leaders of both major parties under RICO laws. Sadly, unlikely, or a worse idea.
Coffee and chocolate are both toxic for cats. Be careful out there.
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Coffee and chocolate are both toxic for cats. Be careful out there.
Also, Spain has in Catalonia their own region that was once independent, but long since been a part of unified Spain, with its own slightly different culture and slightly different language, that would like to break away and become independent, taking some of Spain's best Geography with them.
November 10, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Also, Spain has in Catalonia their own region that was once independent, but long since been a part of unified Spain, with its own slightly different culture and slightly different language, that would like to break away and become independent, taking some of Spain's best Geography with them.
And a bit of an homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey at the start?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-QF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-QF...
2001 A Space Odyssey Opening in 1080 HD
YouTube video by il con
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:25 AM
And a bit of an homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey at the start?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-QF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-QF...
To the right, it's anyone in politics who even *pretends* to care about the poor or minorities or anyone but the richest and strongest people. To the far left, it's anyone who clearly does care, or knows they *should* care, but doesn't think caring requires a bloody revolution.
November 10, 2025 at 7:07 AM
To the right, it's anyone in politics who even *pretends* to care about the poor or minorities or anyone but the richest and strongest people. To the far left, it's anyone who clearly does care, or knows they *should* care, but doesn't think caring requires a bloody revolution.
I went to DC as an 8th grader to represent Illinois in a national academic contest and Dick Durbin's office ghosted us when we asked if we could visit our Senator while we were in town. We ended up tagging along with the Indiana delegation as their Senator gave a tour of the Capitol. Back in *1990*.
November 10, 2025 at 6:32 AM
I went to DC as an 8th grader to represent Illinois in a national academic contest and Dick Durbin's office ghosted us when we asked if we could visit our Senator while we were in town. We ended up tagging along with the Indiana delegation as their Senator gave a tour of the Capitol. Back in *1990*.
Dick Durbin is already retiring, but I'm thinking of not voting for whoever he endorses to replace him. I hope Senator Tammy Duckworth runs over his toes with her wheelchair.
November 10, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Dick Durbin is already retiring, but I'm thinking of not voting for whoever he endorses to replace him. I hope Senator Tammy Duckworth runs over his toes with her wheelchair.
Having worked at Marshall Field's when they were still owned by Target Corporation...this is accurate.
November 9, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Having worked at Marshall Field's when they were still owned by Target Corporation...this is accurate.
You're thinking of her Muppet alter ego, Bertoncé.
bert from the sesame street is running on a stage with the words `` doin ' the pigeon '' behind him .
ALT: bert from the sesame street is running on a stage with the words `` doin ' the pigeon '' behind him .
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:33 PM
You're thinking of her Muppet alter ego, Bertoncé.
No, just her pubes.
November 9, 2025 at 8:11 AM
No, just her pubes.
Typical guy, always talking about your Willie.
November 9, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Typical guy, always talking about your Willie.
Sigh. I remember when you had to write out your perverted fantasies of Hillary Clinton being strangled by a female Secret Service agent as erotic prose and post it to USENET. Now you just get an AI to make a photorealistic video for you.
(No, I didn't write those. But I did read one. Ugh.)
(No, I didn't write those. But I did read one. Ugh.)
a man covering his eyes with his hands and a caption that says where 's the brain bleach
ALT: a man covering his eyes with his hands and a caption that says where 's the brain bleach
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Sigh. I remember when you had to write out your perverted fantasies of Hillary Clinton being strangled by a female Secret Service agent as erotic prose and post it to USENET. Now you just get an AI to make a photorealistic video for you.
(No, I didn't write those. But I did read one. Ugh.)
(No, I didn't write those. But I did read one. Ugh.)
If rates fall, you can refinance. Just make sure you avoid mortgages with early-repayment penalties longer than 2 years or so.
November 9, 2025 at 5:19 AM
If rates fall, you can refinance. Just make sure you avoid mortgages with early-repayment penalties longer than 2 years or so.