@Itty53@mstdn.social
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

Itty53

@Itty53@mstdn.social

Father/Husband/Programmer in CA with a need to collect my thoughts on stuff. Politics, psychology, sociology, history, law, society, music, film, games, humor.

Header is just the color black.

Avatar is a Photoshop of Barack Obama in a classic suit, framed from the chest up, speaking at a podium. His face is in what appears to be a slight scowl. The image is monochrome black and white, and his face has been altered to add Locs style sunglasses and a black baseball cap reading "Compton".

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

GottaLaff, to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Congrats, @ciggysmokebringer!
( ciggysmokebringer @kolektiva.social)
You’re my first of the day! And thank you for playing

https://kolektiva.social/@ciggysmokebringer/111943949444170379

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@GottaLaff @ciggysmokebringer

That whole instance is worth blocking.

Check your block lists, I bet you already have well over a dozen people from there blocked. It's a tankie shit hole and it breeds trolls. You won't miss a thing by blocking it wholesale.

Itty53, to random
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

Just saw someone suggest writing in a candidate if you're ethically opposed to both Trump and Biden.

She suggested Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and said she herself would be writing in Taylor Swift this year, and in the future looking at AOC.

She insisted she was not burning her vote. She is though.

And the funny thing? ALL FOUR of her hopefuls endorsed Biden for president in 2020, and three have endorsed him for 2024 - we're expecting Taylor to speak up soon.

Vote Biden.

BlackAzizAnansi, to random
@BlackAzizAnansi@mas.to avatar

Bookmark this form when Melania leaves Donald.

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@BlackAzizAnansi

Alien vs Predator: the divorce.

adrianhon, to random
@adrianhon@mastodon.social avatar

Awful, awful story. Even smart, informed people can fall for scams when they’re up against a veritable tiger team. https://www.thecut.com/article/amazon-scam-call-ftc-arrest-warrants.html

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@adriaan @adrianhon

Lesson one of adulting in America: law enforcement of any kind will not call you in order to make contact. They only ever call if previously arranged because calling is not a secure method of making contact.

If you get a call, text, email from law enforcement, ignore it. If you're the DAs problem they'll use an official letter in the post with a public number available to check. If that fails then it becomes law enforcement's problem, and they will come to your door.

danwentzel, to USpolitics
@danwentzel@urbanists.social avatar

So half of Republicans think that California isn't really American.

Who do they think pays the bills of red states?

Might I suggest that red state Republicans try asking themselves, "How did California become the world's 5th biggest economy anyway, and what progressive changes do we need to make to the states we govern to lift them up to California's level?"

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-02-13/golden-state-loses-luster-half-of-americans-say-california-in-decline

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@danwentzel

On the one hand there are some political and regulatory factors. That's true.

On the other, California is maybe the most optimum state as far as resources, location, size, coastline, weather, etc. Still tons of room for development too.

What I'm getting at is you're not gonna get Kentucky to increase their sea-shipping industry, and Nevada isn't going to turn arable no matter how progressive you are. California is in as privileged a position as a US state gets really.

dgar, to random
@dgar@aus.social avatar
Itty53, (edited )
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@dgar

That's actually a very cute way for two middle aged people to share a few minutes for no reason other than love. It's certainly more heartfelt, quality time spent together than each spending ten minutes picking some gift and quickly exchanging midway through the morning routines. And nothing makes relationships worth it more than doing silly, stupid things together.

molly0xfff, to random
@molly0xfff@hachyderm.io avatar

man i hate the mastodon/bluesky fighting

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@molly0xfff

Fedi, 9 months ago:

"Adversarial interoperability will save us from enshittification! They'll try to stop us but fuck them!"

Fedi, the last two days:
"wait! no! not like that! And furthermore, how dare you??"

josephcox, to random

New from 404 Media: applying to a host of jobs—including FedEx, McDonald's, CVS—now requires a bizarre personality quiz with blue aliens run by a company called Paradox.ai. We tested it out by applying for job at Olive Garden.

https://www.404media.co/low-paying-jobs-require-bizarre-personality-evaluation-from-ai-company/

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@josephcox

These are built around the notion of filtering out applicants that won't accept being treated poorly.

Old old story, new tech bro varnish.

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@cavyherd @josephcox

It's really hilarious to me that virtually all AI generated images look to be wrapped in dull-to-shiny cellophane. The effect of generalizing light and shadow against billions of product marketing images that all copied each other over time.

Teri_Kanefield, to random
@Teri_Kanefield@mastodon.social avatar

A word about left-wing conspiracy theories.

Yesterday I sent about 10 people to this page because they were saying the same untrue things about Merrick Garland that I disproved here with facts:

https://terikanefield.com/can-democracy-work-in-america-part-iii-an-msnbc-cnn-conspiracy-theory-and-the-perils-of-legal-punditry/

That's when I realized a new Merrick Garland conspiracy theory had taken hold.

My initial reaction was pure irritation.

A knew what it would take to disprove it. . .

1/

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@Teri_Kanefield

"..we don't know anything because we're not supposed to know anything."

I think this is one of the most important lines here.

The American tendency towards gossip combined with a 24 hour leak-driven news cycle and instant information transfer has given us a society where the above rationalization - a highly valid one - is deeply unsettling to hold. And so, conspiracy theory.

The average American doesn't believe anyone keeps a secret for the benefit of everyone.

philip_cardella, to random
@philip_cardella@historians.social avatar

I'm telling y'all. You need to be terrified of

Talking to my buddy who is absolutely a voted for Obama twice and is so worried about 's age he'd vote for .

I'm trying to convince him Haley will gleefully implement (which he's never heard of--if I told you his job title you'd shit, he's swinging a big stick) but he's a prime example of why she's so dangerous.

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@philip_cardella

Trump would still run on an independent ticket. He said he would already, it's not even a forgone conclusion. That kills the Republican ticket deader than a dodo in any model you can dream up.

Trump will be the GOP candidate unless he's literally dead. I'm not trying to make a victim out of the GOP - they put themselves in his bed - but Trump's holding them hostage all the same. He won't step aside.

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@philip_cardella

Haley couldn't beat Biden without Trump's base. No numbers add up for that. And Trump isn't giving his base to anyone. Trump needs them to stay out of prison or exile, that's the honest truth he is fully aware of.

Even if every GOP politician - every single one - endorsed Haley, polls still tell us the GOP base would still split for Trump.

Bet. I'll bet a thousand USD right now: Trump is the candidate or splits the GOP, one or the other. No other outcome.

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@philip_cardella

If Trump dies.

That's the catch. If he is breathing, he's the candidate. If he's breathing and he's not? Best possible outcome. Means a clear Biden victory and the end of the GOP. Literally.

Trump isn't gonna die. Remember he's still a former POTUS, still has the best medical care in human history behind him.

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@philip_cardella

You keep saying I should be afraid of Haley. I'm not. Not even a little bit, and I don't think she stands a snowball's chance in hell. So what am I missing?

You have to be counting on Trump's death -and sooner than later, even- to be afraid of the potential of a legitimate 1v1 Biden v Haley. That's the only way that happens.

I don't listen much to media polls anymore because polling is itself the art of building support, not measuring it.

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@philip_cardella

I'm not trying to argue with you, I'm trying to understand why I should be afraid of Haley outside the possibility that Trump literally dies in the next three months.

Because I don't see any reason for such fear.

I'm aware of what's at stake and I understand Haley isn't any better than Trump for anyone. I get all of that. I'm just saying there's no way in the world Haley wins against Biden unless Trump is dead, and I don't think his timely death is likely. It's not.

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@philip_cardella

Okay that's wrong. Trump breathing means he has influence on the election, on the ballot or not. Again, he has said in so many words he'd rather burn down the GOP than give up the nomination, and he will.

Only him dead and gone changes that. In exile, in prison, he's still splitting the vote. Guaranteed. Even totally infirmed and bedridden, his circle would carry it on for their own skin. They want to stay out of prison too.

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@philip_cardella

Raw Story has been operating on fear mongering Trump's face for the better part of the last decade. Every single article they publish ends with his stupid fucking face. How have you not noticed this?

So no. I'm not entertaining another of their vapid listicles based on the opinions of a couple C-list pundits seeking a horserace.

I will entertain arguments from a real person though, if you're willing.

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@philip_cardella

It is LITERALLY a listicle, its headline indicates that and then its structure fulfilled that promise. You're not being rational if you're gonna insist that isn't a listicle. It's exactly a listicle.

It's also a gish gallop, like you've used it here. "Address all these arguments or stop talking". No sorry, you're not addressing even one of mine.

Nikki Haley's only chance in hell is if Trump dies in the next 90 days.

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

If you could pause body aging, what age would you have paused at, and why?

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@RickiTarr

Specifically the fall of 2010. I guess 24.

That's when I broke my ankle and didn't get it properly taken care of, haven't been able to run at all or walk very long without pain since.

silverspookgames, to cyberpunk
@silverspookgames@mastodon.social avatar

"Neofeud is the rawest, most moving cyberpunk video game I’ve ever experienced" "A cyberpunk masterpiece" --Steam Reviewers NF2 (pictured) is coming soon!
https://silverspook.itch.io/neofeud
https://store.steampowered.com/app/673850/Neofeud/

Neofeud 2 cyberpunk apartment scene

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@silverspookgames

First time I've seen it, I'll give it a shot.

I gotta ask, was the old Microprose game BloodNet on your radar when your team made this? The visuals I'm seeing in the screenshot instantly reminded me of that game and the philosophy angle on it does as well.

dannotdaniel, to random
@dannotdaniel@mastodon.social avatar

so my "anti woke" neighbors are really upset about
are you ready for this

Taylor Swift

😂🤣😭💀

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@dannotdaniel

I work remotely with a team of around 40 people directly, and another hundred or so indirectly.

With remote work at a large company, there's a lot of fakery and fronting about things, people are careful about what they say. No one is going to tell you they're MAGA on a teams call monitored by an international conglomerate.

But you can pretty much tell who's who by how loudly they complain about Taylor Swift. It's really become its own little dogwhistle.

WhyNotZoidberg, to random
@WhyNotZoidberg@topspicy.social avatar

Hey let's provoke half of Mastodon.

Seriously tho: phone advice. I am in the market for a new mid range phone and I have narrowed it down to Motorola 40 Neo, Sansung A54, Google Pixel 7a or GooglePixel 8.

...I have an A52 and I like it, but I am not really feeling the A54.
The Motorola is only guaranteed one more OS upgrade...
Which leaves the Goigke phones (ducking).

Itty53,
@Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

@WhyNotZoidberg

Pixel, hands down imo. I went from using Galaxy to Pixel on the 7 Pro, never regretted it.

skykiss, to Law
@skykiss@sfba.social avatar

deleted_by_author

    •
    Itty53,
    @Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

    @skykiss

    You know he didn't say that shit about T-Pain when he covered War Pigs.

    purplepadma, (edited ) to random
    @purplepadma@beige.party avatar

    Best nut?

    Itty53,
    @Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

    @Helengraham @purplepadma

    You're not wrong about any of that. Imported nuts are a huge climate waste no matter where you are. But conversely almonds grow right next door to me. I'm in CA, macadamia are usually imported here, but never almonds.

    It sticks out about almonds because of an industrial propaganda effort. Almonds aren't special in any regard compared to other nuts, except that they happen to be the target of that propaganda. All kinds of websites repeat propaganda, knowingly or not.

    Itty53,
    @Itty53@mstdn.social avatar

    @Helengraham @purplepadma

    Yep yep. Living here in the central valley my whole life, you get especially attuned to the agriculture industry and the weight they can swing around. Agriculture is an insanely powerful industry and they know how to use PR to affect global markets. It's an industry unto itself really.

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