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Vikram Bath

@vikrambath.bsky.social

1.7K followers 560 following 5.7K posts

Former business school professor, current software engineer. Writes at ordinary-times.com

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · Apr 5

Note that these are the years over which America first became the world’s economic superpower

Manufacturing share of employment steadily declined since WWII

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 10h

If you advertise a product that doesn’t resemble what you deliver in even the best of circumstances, that is false advertising. Just because you’ve been getting away with it for decades doesn’t mean you didn’t do it

Culture Crave 🍿 @culturecrave.co · 1d

Arby's is being sued for false advertising

Lawsuit alleges:

• Ads make the sandwiches appear to have 'at least 100% more meat' than they really do

• Made the meat look like rare roast beef when it is actually 'fully cooked'

Arby's lost its motion to dismiss the case

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 11h

Canonically Goldilocks was manspreading all over the bears’ home, so I understand the confusion

Momster for Gliberty 🧟 @fakegreekgrill.bsky.social · 12h

My kids are having a fight about whether Goldilocks is a boy, so take that, gender!

Reposted by Vikram Bath

Jack Tripper @chadstanton.blacksky.app · 13h

This is why those “who’s surprised?” comments really don’t move me because we act as if this is sectioned off into “politics” or “culture wars” and don’t affect the bedrock institutions in the society.

Notreal @susannyc.bsky.social · 15h

She is a school Counselor!!!!!!

From the school website identifying her.

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 17h

Here in snow country it would be making a structure that wouldn’t collapse. Basically it’s the same reason covered parking hasn’t been widely adopted in general

Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 20h

Those are good. NO KINGS is a winner imho

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 20h

Why try winning elections when we could solve this all by adopting a new constitution that solves our particular party’s problems?

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 21h

White peoples are famous for not blaming non-white people for their problems

T-shirt: White Privilege: the ability to suffer whatever life throws at you without blaming another ethnic group

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you, I did not know this!

Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 1d

Apologies! I actually had thought he was one of the Nobel’s shameful omissions bsky.app/profile/west...

westvillagecrank.bsky.social @westvillagecrank.bsky.social · 1d

MLK, Jr? You might want to inform the Nobel people.

www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...

Nobel Peace Prize 1964

The Nobel Peace Prize 1964 was awarded to Martin Luther King Jr. "for his non-violent struggle for civil rights for the Afro-American population"

www.nobelprize.org

Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 1d

I’m watching Friday three times

Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 1d

It would really be nice if we could be saved by a deus ex machina, but it’s not happening

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Reposted by Vikram Bath

Lord Businessman II @lordbusinessman.bsky.social · 2d

Okay but how do you transit a colorless, odorless gas safely across distance

Jeff Brady @jeffbradynews.bsky.social · 2d

Natural gas prices are relatively low now, but residential gas utility rates are nearing record highs. Customers are paying more for infrastructure, construction, utility costs and taxes than they are for the actual fuel. My @npr.org story: www.npr.org/2025/10/13/n...

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Reposted by Vikram Bath

Yu-Ming Liou @yumingliou.bsky.social · 2d

I’m now the exciting frontier papers professors insert on syllabi as optional reading are now foundational work for which people win Nobel prizes years old.

Soumaya Keynes @soumayakeynes.ft.com · 2d

The not-a-Nobel-but-we're-gonna-treat-it-like-a-Nobel in economics goes to

Joel Mokyr "for having identified the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress"

Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt "for the theory of sustained growth through creative destruction"

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Reposted by Vikram Bath

Ghostin this Hell @hoovybaby.bsky.social · 2d

no quarter given lmao

Matt Stoller & @matthewstoller • 2h
UPS had seven months of warning about the de minimis change, but is still taking packages w/o getting required customs info & is making tariff charge errors.
Nice use of passive voice though!

derek guy
@dieworkwear • 2h
i apologize using a passive voice. i was not born in london to a wealthy bank executive, sent to an exclusive private prep school in new hampshire, and then studied at harvard before larping as a champion of the people. you have to work with my low upbringing.

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 2d

Easiest block ever

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Reposted by Vikram Bath

lenora frigid @lenorajoon.bsky.social · 2d

she also does not seem to know how to use "beef"

"so absurd. A current beef against Weiss is that she'll fail because she lacks broadcast experience. The beef against Weiss when she left the Times was that she would sink into obscurity. And the beef against her when she started to become successful was that she was selling out. If there's one person in the world I wouldn't bet against now, it's Bari Weiss."

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Reposted by Vikram Bath

Tom Scocca @tomscocca.bsky.social · 2d

Please nobody tell professional writer praising professional journalists Caitlin Flanagan what "out of whole cloth" means

Screenshot of text:

Not now but soon enough, there will be major stories about The Free Press being the creation of three female founders who constructed a hugely successful digital business out of whole cloth.

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 2d

“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”
Blaise Pascal

Kate Sills @katelynsills.com · 2d

I'm watching Alone Season 11 and it always amazes me how much the greatest challenge for the men is to be in their own head for a week.

Some of the men have never worked through any of their emotions in their life and honestly it's kind of terrifying that those people walk among us now.

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 2d

Call Pete Hegseth! People are failing the fitness tests!

Fitness Test On your EOD Date

Please be advised they are doing the fitness in the offices ON YOUR EOD.

They will NOT let you complete onboarding if you fail the fitness test.

I say this because I am in the office and they said it started yesterday. 70-80% fail rate at FLETC

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 2d

Huh. www.reddit.com/r/ICE_ERO/s/...

Hey everyone,

As promised, here’s my one-week overview of my current experience as a Deportation Officer (DO) with ICE-ERO. If you haven’t seen my initial post, you can check it out here: My First Impressions. https://www.reddit.com/r/ICE_ERO/s/g2PuHrFgYu

This first week has been an incredible experience—challenging, eye-opening, and rewarding. On my third official day during orientation, I witnessed the shooting incident in Dallas, TX. It was a shocking reminder of the dangers we face in this profession. May the Lord bless the one who lost their life, and keep the rest of us safe. We live in tough times, but I firmly believe good will overcome evil.

Despite the risks, this job is worth it. Serving this country and growing in this role has a purpose bigger than ourselves. For those of you who are new hires or still waiting for your EOD, here’s some advice that may help you:

Firearms: If you’ve never shot before, get some range time. Learn to safely handle and build confidence with a firearm. ICE-ERO is moving away from the SIG P320 and returning to Glock 19s (or something similar). Like one of our trainers said: invest in yourself and come ready.

Academy Length: The academy is 54 days long—not because it’s easier, but because you’ll work six days a week with only one day off. Be prepared for long days and stay sharp.

Transportation: Personally, I recommend not driving if you want to save money. FLETC provides transportation, and you’ll avoid putting miles on your car. That said, if you live nearby, weigh your options.

Final Thoughts

I could go on, but I think these are the essentials to set you up for success. This is a dangerous but honorable job—come prepared, stay humble, and invest in yourself.

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 3d

“tArIfFs mAkE ThInGs aFfOrDaBlE FoR LoWeR ClAsS AnD MiDdLe cLaSs cOnSuMeRs”

Okay, well then explain this

BREAKING: Look at this.

A new crypto account was opened yesterday morning.

30 minutes BEFORE Trump's announcement of 100% tariffs on China, it added a huge multi-million dollar levered Bitcoin short position, per YF.

The market dumped.

The trader made a profit of $192 million in two hours.

Unusual.

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 3d

One more kid saved from autism

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · Mar 11

"The vaccination has stuff we don't trust," said the father of the 6-year-old girl who died from measles at the end of last month. Tom Bartlett visited with a family confronting an unthinkable tragedy:

The Texas Girl Who Died From Measles

Her father tells her story.

www.theatlantic.com

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 3d

Yes, as long as you don’t plan on actually playing chess with them

Reposted by Vikram Bath

Jack Tripper @chadstanton.blacksky.app · 3d

They’re trying to get people clubbing seals again

abcnews.go.com/Politics/wir...

Republicans try to weaken 50-year-old law protecting whales, seals and polar bears

One of the U.S.’s longest standing pieces of environmental legislation, credited with helping save rare whales from extinction, is the subject of an effort for cutbacks from Republican lawmakers who n...

abcnews.go.com

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Vikram Bath @vikrambath.bsky.social · 3d

LLMs are more accurate if you’re mean to them?

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