MTF
@emteef.bsky.social
November tomato. Western Massachusetts
Reposted by MTF
As I never tire of reminding people, the two plausible alternatives to automated traffic enforcement are that we either rely on the discretion of individual police officers or we simply don't enforce traffic laws at all. We have been trying both alternatives now and they are failing us.
See also: debates about speed cameras.
There's a problematic reflex among some progressive reformers to move from "conventional criminal legal responses are bad" to something too close to "accountability in general is bad."
I think (as Jamelle argues here) it's rooted in not thinking abt victims.
There's a problematic reflex among some progressive reformers to move from "conventional criminal legal responses are bad" to something too close to "accountability in general is bad."
I think (as Jamelle argues here) it's rooted in not thinking abt victims.
someone tell the California ACLU who is disproportionately more likely to be killed in traffic accidents including those involving people under the influence
December 12, 2025 at 8:47 PM
As I never tire of reminding people, the two plausible alternatives to automated traffic enforcement are that we either rely on the discretion of individual police officers or we simply don't enforce traffic laws at all. We have been trying both alternatives now and they are failing us.
Reposted by MTF
again, ignition interlocks are one of those things where there basically *really is* a technological solution to the problem that greatly mitigates that tradeoffs, and it's a policy failure that they aren't mandatory for five years after your first DUI.
“Drunk and drugged driving is now so common in car-centric California that drivers routinely rack up four, five, six DUIs. One woman in Fresno just got her 16th.”
California has some of the weakest DUI laws in the nation. Here, DUI-related deaths have been rising more than twice as fast as the rest of the country.
But this fall, a state bill to strengthen DUI penalties was gutted at the last minute. calmatters.org/investigatio...
8/9
But this fall, a state bill to strengthen DUI penalties was gutted at the last minute. calmatters.org/investigatio...
8/9
December 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
again, ignition interlocks are one of those things where there basically *really is* a technological solution to the problem that greatly mitigates that tradeoffs, and it's a policy failure that they aren't mandatory for five years after your first DUI.
Reposted by MTF
People like this need to be ticketed, but also mercilessly shamed
December 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM
People like this need to be ticketed, but also mercilessly shamed
Reposted by MTF
To be clear: certified nurse-midwives who assist with home births and aren't quacks will bring meds with them to help stop post-partum hemorrhage. Lay midwives, doulas, and free-birth assistants usually are not legally allowed to administer meds. If you're considering home birth - ASK ABOUT THIS.
December 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
To be clear: certified nurse-midwives who assist with home births and aren't quacks will bring meds with them to help stop post-partum hemorrhage. Lay midwives, doulas, and free-birth assistants usually are not legally allowed to administer meds. If you're considering home birth - ASK ABOUT THIS.
Reposted by MTF
the thing is there really is a epochal tech revolution happening, it’s called renewables and green industry
Really refuse to let the worst people have ownership of techno-optimism
December 11, 2025 at 12:01 PM
the thing is there really is a epochal tech revolution happening, it’s called renewables and green industry
Reposted by MTF
Yup. And when some of us can make choices that reduce harms, at no loss to ourselves, that helps those who are less able to make those choices because it reduces their cost, direct and otherwise.
It is not, as some people seem to believe, an act of judgement on those who don't make that choice.
It is not, as some people seem to believe, an act of judgement on those who don't make that choice.
December 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Yup. And when some of us can make choices that reduce harms, at no loss to ourselves, that helps those who are less able to make those choices because it reduces their cost, direct and otherwise.
It is not, as some people seem to believe, an act of judgement on those who don't make that choice.
It is not, as some people seem to believe, an act of judgement on those who don't make that choice.
The inability for everyone to make an ethical choice doesn't mean we all get to opt out of them!
i am also very done with every single conversation about consumer choices being derailed by the what abouts
people have disabilities, people are poor, people are plus sized
the inability for everyone to make an ethical choice doesn’t mean we all get to opt out of them
people have disabilities, people are poor, people are plus sized
the inability for everyone to make an ethical choice doesn’t mean we all get to opt out of them
December 9, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The inability for everyone to make an ethical choice doesn't mean we all get to opt out of them!
Reposted by MTF
The Supreme Court cannot “uphold the longstanding principle” or “strike down birthright citizenship.” The Supreme Court can follow the plain text of the constitution or declare itself in rebellion to the constitution. These are the only two options wrt birthright citizenship and the 14th Amendment.
The Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the longstanding principle that grants citizenship to the children of non-citizens born in the U.S., following a legal challenge by the Trump administration. n.pr/48E1oko
Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments in birthright citizenship challenge
The Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the longstanding principle that grants citizenship to the children of non-citizens born in the U.S., following a legal challenge by the Trump administration.
n.pr
December 6, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The Supreme Court cannot “uphold the longstanding principle” or “strike down birthright citizenship.” The Supreme Court can follow the plain text of the constitution or declare itself in rebellion to the constitution. These are the only two options wrt birthright citizenship and the 14th Amendment.
Prison is edging toward the disquietingly lenient option.
December 5, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Prison is edging toward the disquietingly lenient option.
Reposted by MTF
This is SO interesting!!
Today on Volts: I've had more requests to cover this than almost any other topic in the pod's history, so now, at long last, balcony solar! We dig into how "plug-in solar" took off in Europe & how it's making its way to the US, starting in Utah. Backyard DIY types rejoice!
What's the deal with balcony solar?
Cora Stryker joins me to explain how "plug-in" solar took Europe by storm and is finally, via Utah (?), making its way to America.
www.volts.wtf
December 5, 2025 at 7:48 PM
This is SO interesting!!
Definitely the zero stakes opinion that puts me most at odd with my feed here is that that political scifi show is Bad
December 5, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Definitely the zero stakes opinion that puts me most at odd with my feed here is that that political scifi show is Bad
Reposted by MTF
People expect miracles from medicine, but refuse the miracle that would let them avoid needing emergency care in the first place
December 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM
People expect miracles from medicine, but refuse the miracle that would let them avoid needing emergency care in the first place
Reposted by MTF
Since becoming a parent I have not, in fact, understood the parents who say “if you were a parent you’d understand” about vaccine hesitancy. Being in charge of this fragile little miracle has me saying things like “give her all the vaccines. Turn this baby into a pincushion” to doctors
December 5, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Since becoming a parent I have not, in fact, understood the parents who say “if you were a parent you’d understand” about vaccine hesitancy. Being in charge of this fragile little miracle has me saying things like “give her all the vaccines. Turn this baby into a pincushion” to doctors
Reposted by MTF
perhaps this is a good time to reup my take that speeding tickets should be made proportional not just to your wealth/income but to the kinetic energy possessed by your vehicle at the time a violation is detected.
December 5, 2025 at 3:54 PM
perhaps this is a good time to reup my take that speeding tickets should be made proportional not just to your wealth/income but to the kinetic energy possessed by your vehicle at the time a violation is detected.
Reposted by MTF
There’s an established penalty for ordering the killing of shipwrecked sailors (even during a war, which we are manifestly not in) and we should apply that penalty. I would say it’s vitally important to apply that penalty, in fact.
December 5, 2025 at 12:20 AM
There’s an established penalty for ordering the killing of shipwrecked sailors (even during a war, which we are manifestly not in) and we should apply that penalty. I would say it’s vitally important to apply that penalty, in fact.
Reposted by MTF
Liver cancer prevention in children. That is what RFK Jr trying to "scale back on" today.
He is a monster.
He is a monster.
Today is the start of 2 days of meetings of RFK Jr.'s ACIP, where vaccines skeptics outnumber actual scientists and medial experts. Their target: the Hep B vaccine, which has a ~90-98% (after 3 doses) effectiveness rate in preventing infection for up to 30 yrs.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Doctors warn delaying hepatitis B shot for newborns could revive a deadly threat
As RFK Jr.'s new vaccine panel ponders changing the hepatitis B vaccination schedule, some doctors recall past patients, including children, who died painful deaths before there was a vaccine.
www.npr.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Liver cancer prevention in children. That is what RFK Jr trying to "scale back on" today.
He is a monster.
He is a monster.
Reposted by MTF
empathy has downsides!
what most people need is morals + theory of mind
what most people need is morals + theory of mind
December 1, 2025 at 6:21 PM
empathy has downsides!
what most people need is morals + theory of mind
what most people need is morals + theory of mind
Reposted by MTF
fuck it, for the people in the back:
the jeff bezos owned washington post is the outlet responsible for making sure the primary complaint about AI was water. this may have been in part because jeff knew it was bullshit, so when amzn gets blowback they can easily prove their water footprint is small
the jeff bezos owned washington post is the outlet responsible for making sure the primary complaint about AI was water. this may have been in part because jeff knew it was bullshit, so when amzn gets blowback they can easily prove their water footprint is small
not to be conspiratorial but the outlet that successfully pushed this line and made it the primary complaint was wapo
December 1, 2025 at 1:44 AM
fuck it, for the people in the back:
the jeff bezos owned washington post is the outlet responsible for making sure the primary complaint about AI was water. this may have been in part because jeff knew it was bullshit, so when amzn gets blowback they can easily prove their water footprint is small
the jeff bezos owned washington post is the outlet responsible for making sure the primary complaint about AI was water. this may have been in part because jeff knew it was bullshit, so when amzn gets blowback they can easily prove their water footprint is small
Reposted by MTF
Probably my most radical view is that we should tighten laws on commerical speech to the point that we simply ban marketing
The ability of small firms to advertise directly to consumers across the country thanks to the internet is one of the things that makes the modern economy suck so much.
December 1, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Probably my most radical view is that we should tighten laws on commerical speech to the point that we simply ban marketing
Reposted by MTF
It's always guys who say "people don't want Republican-lite" who pitch Republican-lite but for racism & sexism.
December 1, 2025 at 12:36 AM
It's always guys who say "people don't want Republican-lite" who pitch Republican-lite but for racism & sexism.
Reposted by MTF
the primary thing that TPUSA provides to young conservatives is a blueprint for weaponizing the abject cowardice of university administrators against individual teachers and instructors, and university admins should take a long look in the mirror and think about what that says about them
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
November 30, 2025 at 8:51 PM
the primary thing that TPUSA provides to young conservatives is a blueprint for weaponizing the abject cowardice of university administrators against individual teachers and instructors, and university admins should take a long look in the mirror and think about what that says about them
Reposted by MTF
The Mandarin collar has a really handsome silhouette and I wish that it had been adopted as a business casual standard, since it's at it's best on a business shirt with no tie - the essence of business casual
November 28, 2025 at 2:14 PM
The Mandarin collar has a really handsome silhouette and I wish that it had been adopted as a business casual standard, since it's at it's best on a business shirt with no tie - the essence of business casual
Reposted by MTF
Pointed out by my friend @carloshasanax.bsky.social . There's something weird and unsettling about a fairly homogeneous culture spread out across Europe that then collapses into an orgy of genocide.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Headless bodies hint at why Europe’s first farmers vanished
Wave of mass brutality accompanied the collapse of the first pan-European culture
www.science.org
November 27, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Pointed out by my friend @carloshasanax.bsky.social . There's something weird and unsettling about a fairly homogeneous culture spread out across Europe that then collapses into an orgy of genocide.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by MTF
they are bad at their jobs, they didn't earn those jobs, they gatekeep people with actual principles, and they wanted Trump to win
November 27, 2025 at 1:05 AM
they are bad at their jobs, they didn't earn those jobs, they gatekeep people with actual principles, and they wanted Trump to win
This IS so sad.
Thank you for introducing me to the term anthrodenialism.
And also: we don't know where LEOPARD SEALS reproduce (successfully)? I thought the eels thing was wild, but seals?! Large mammals? 😮
Thank you for introducing me to the term anthrodenialism.
And also: we don't know where LEOPARD SEALS reproduce (successfully)? I thought the eels thing was wild, but seals?! Large mammals? 😮
this might be the saddest story I've ever written, about a seal that I will be thinking about for a long, long time.
defector.com/why-wont-nor...
defector.com/why-wont-nor...
Why Won’t Nora The Leopard Seal Abandon Her Dead Pups? | Defector
In the fall of 2021, Renato Borras-Chavez, a marine mammal ecologist at the University of Rhode Island, spotted a leopard seal on an ice floe. Borras-Chavez was on a research expedition to a glacial f...
defector.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:59 PM
This IS so sad.
Thank you for introducing me to the term anthrodenialism.
And also: we don't know where LEOPARD SEALS reproduce (successfully)? I thought the eels thing was wild, but seals?! Large mammals? 😮
Thank you for introducing me to the term anthrodenialism.
And also: we don't know where LEOPARD SEALS reproduce (successfully)? I thought the eels thing was wild, but seals?! Large mammals? 😮