Sea Monkey Denier
@ersatzverite.bsky.social
My name is Tristan Cohen, I live in MA and work at the Federal Energy Commission mostly on Eastern US issues.
Pinned
"What happened didn't matter, what it felt like was what mattered." was something an ex told me in a post-mortem on our break-up. At the time I thought she was insane, now I think it is one of the wisest things anyone has said about how we think about the world.
"I don't want to give up my follower count." -- The Real Argument.
I hear this all the time, "If I stop working for detestable org <>, then I am letting the detestable ppl win." Just admit you are worried about the cost of change. It's not unreasonable.
I hear this all the time, "If I stop working for detestable org <>, then I am letting the detestable ppl win." Just admit you are worried about the cost of change. It's not unreasonable.
If women quit X because of Grok’s deepfake nudes, the predators win – so I’m staying
If women quit X because of Grok’s deepfake nudes, the predators win – so I’m staying
If women quit X because of Grok’s deepfake nudes, the predators win – so I’m staying
www.independent.co.uk
January 10, 2026 at 4:54 PM
"I don't want to give up my follower count." -- The Real Argument.
I hear this all the time, "If I stop working for detestable org <>, then I am letting the detestable ppl win." Just admit you are worried about the cost of change. It's not unreasonable.
I hear this all the time, "If I stop working for detestable org <>, then I am letting the detestable ppl win." Just admit you are worried about the cost of change. It's not unreasonable.
You can shame ppl for doing this, but a lot of tax theory is about incentives and how ppl respond. Particularly for these very rich ppl who don't necessarily "live" anywhere for 6 months and a day -- they are constantly traveling.
Business Insider confirms our earlier reporting that Google cofounder Larry Page is cutting ties with California ahead of a voter initiative to tax the state's billionaires.
Good findings on how he's re-registered his businesses in other states.
www.businessinsider.com/larry-page-l...
Good findings on how he's re-registered his businesses in other states.
www.businessinsider.com/larry-page-l...
Larry Page is officially moving business out of California ahead of a proposed billionaire's tax
The Google cofounder has severed ties between California and several of his business entities, including his family office.
www.businessinsider.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:17 PM
You can shame ppl for doing this, but a lot of tax theory is about incentives and how ppl respond. Particularly for these very rich ppl who don't necessarily "live" anywhere for 6 months and a day -- they are constantly traveling.
Finally watched Under the Silver Lake. Fuck this movie. Thumbs down.
January 10, 2026 at 4:41 AM
Finally watched Under the Silver Lake. Fuck this movie. Thumbs down.
Given the protests in Iran, is it weird that I think the US needs to take a page from their playbook? Probably less chaotic, but still. Mass protests? Seems good.
January 10, 2026 at 2:10 AM
Given the protests in Iran, is it weird that I think the US needs to take a page from their playbook? Probably less chaotic, but still. Mass protests? Seems good.
Imagine if he could do this. It causes ppl to borrow more, meaning a temporary burst in spending, then the interest rates rise at the end of the moratorium -- probably to above what they are now, and ppl go fucking bankrupt.
Trump: "AFFORDABILITY! Effective January 20, 2026, I, as President of the United States, am calling for a one year cap on Credit Card Interest Rates of 10%."
January 10, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Imagine if he could do this. It causes ppl to borrow more, meaning a temporary burst in spending, then the interest rates rise at the end of the moratorium -- probably to above what they are now, and ppl go fucking bankrupt.
Reposted by Sea Monkey Denier
Here’s a comment for the people who are upset that MN hasn’t charged Jonathan Ross already:
If you just Leeeroy Jenkins this shit you will lose and you will empower fascism and murder.
It is indescribably hard to prosecute cops for murder. It is even hard when the murder is ON VIDEO.
/1
If you just Leeeroy Jenkins this shit you will lose and you will empower fascism and murder.
It is indescribably hard to prosecute cops for murder. It is even hard when the murder is ON VIDEO.
/1
January 9, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Here’s a comment for the people who are upset that MN hasn’t charged Jonathan Ross already:
If you just Leeeroy Jenkins this shit you will lose and you will empower fascism and murder.
It is indescribably hard to prosecute cops for murder. It is even hard when the murder is ON VIDEO.
/1
If you just Leeeroy Jenkins this shit you will lose and you will empower fascism and murder.
It is indescribably hard to prosecute cops for murder. It is even hard when the murder is ON VIDEO.
/1
I just realized that I was living in Europe when the Euro became the common currency, and years later when the French smoking ban went into effect. Probably the two biggest changes to European culture in the 21st century!
January 9, 2026 at 3:59 PM
I just realized that I was living in Europe when the Euro became the common currency, and years later when the French smoking ban went into effect. Probably the two biggest changes to European culture in the 21st century!
I prefer the first draft: "If you think my using a bad word is worse than the federal government killing a bystander, you can go fuck yourself."
Frey: "This notion of inflammatory comments -- c'mon guys. I dropped an F bomb, they killed someone. Which one of those is more inflammatory? I'm going with the killing somebody."
January 9, 2026 at 3:51 PM
I prefer the first draft: "If you think my using a bad word is worse than the federal government killing a bystander, you can go fuck yourself."
Find a way to live with ppl who believe different things than you .. at the end of a report of a woman killed by the gov't after returning from dropping her kids off at school? I agree with the sentiment, but it doesn't belong here.
New CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil closing the broadcast from MN last night.
January 9, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Find a way to live with ppl who believe different things than you .. at the end of a report of a woman killed by the gov't after returning from dropping her kids off at school? I agree with the sentiment, but it doesn't belong here.
My thoughts go to esteemed(?) British comedian Jonathan Ross.
January 8, 2026 at 10:46 PM
My thoughts go to esteemed(?) British comedian Jonathan Ross.
If I am reading this correctly, six months ago Ross was injured by a car in an apprehension. If he wants to argue temporary insanity at his murder trial, he should definitely try that, but the key is the trial.
January 8, 2026 at 10:42 PM
If I am reading this correctly, six months ago Ross was injured by a car in an apprehension. If he wants to argue temporary insanity at his murder trial, he should definitely try that, but the key is the trial.
Let's be clear. White men are already a minority. White women + minorities >> white men. So, this racist garbage has already been proven incorrect. In fact, it's been incorrect SINCE THE FOUNDING!
Earlier today, Elon Musk endorsed full-on Neo-Nazi blood and soil ideology.
January 8, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Let's be clear. White men are already a minority. White women + minorities >> white men. So, this racist garbage has already been proven incorrect. In fact, it's been incorrect SINCE THE FOUNDING!
How much will they give up in pension and healthcare benefits? Seems like it would be a lot over the years.
The White House is reportedly discussing paying everyone who lives in Greenland anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 per person if they secede from Denmark.
This is apparently what putting Americans first looks like.
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
This is apparently what putting Americans first looks like.
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Exclusive: Trump administration mulls payments to sway Greenlanders to join US
U.S. officials have discussed sending lump sum payments to Greenlanders as part of a bid to convince them to secede from Denmark and potentially join the United States, according to four sources famil...
www.reuters.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:33 PM
How much will they give up in pension and healthcare benefits? Seems like it would be a lot over the years.
Oprah, come and get your boy!
Dr Oz threatens to pull Medicaid support for Minnesota: "Sticking to the narrative that's cold in Minnesota -- this is the tip of the iceberg"
January 8, 2026 at 3:16 AM
Oprah, come and get your boy!
Reposted by Sea Monkey Denier
Today once again proved that everyday citizens protesting their government are braver than the titans who own the largest media corporations, run the biggest law firms and lead the most powerful technology companies.
January 7, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Today once again proved that everyday citizens protesting their government are braver than the titans who own the largest media corporations, run the biggest law firms and lead the most powerful technology companies.
If ICE attempts to hide the officer involved in the shooting from the Minneapolis police, do they become accessories, or aiders and abettors or whatever?
January 7, 2026 at 8:14 PM
If ICE attempts to hide the officer involved in the shooting from the Minneapolis police, do they become accessories, or aiders and abettors or whatever?
Reposted by Sea Monkey Denier
“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health”
It's worth keeping in mind with both of these approaches that content-mediated harm may not be picked up by broad patterns of use. This is what Meta seems to have sorted out internally as the key mechanism, and then promptly buried.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Meta buried 'causal' evidence of social media harm, US court filings allege
Rather than publishing the findings or pursuing additional research, Meta called off further work.
www.reuters.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:11 PM
“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health”
Had a long conversation with friends last night, and was surprised to find out how depressed I am about the future. Even if Ds win in '26 and '28 (which I expect), we have an electorate primed for misery -- which means that we will continue to ..
January 7, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Had a long conversation with friends last night, and was surprised to find out how depressed I am about the future. Even if Ds win in '26 and '28 (which I expect), we have an electorate primed for misery -- which means that we will continue to ..
I don't use Reddit, but with collective moderation and focus on individual issues, I wonder if it is the only good form of social media. All these other places, including here, are sort of sewers. (Also, if I used Reddit, I may end up hating it)
January 7, 2026 at 4:32 PM
I don't use Reddit, but with collective moderation and focus on individual issues, I wonder if it is the only good form of social media. All these other places, including here, are sort of sewers. (Also, if I used Reddit, I may end up hating it)
It sucks here bc the big winners were insider traders, but it was an invasion.
Polymarket is disputing that the US mission to capture Nicolás Maduro constituted an "invasion", refusing to pay out bets on a contract with $10.5M in wagers (Financial Times)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
January 7, 2026 at 4:13 PM
It sucks here bc the big winners were insider traders, but it was an invasion.
The wannabe oligarchs don't understand that living under the thumb of a dictator is worse than paying high marginal tax rates.
January 7, 2026 at 3:30 AM
The wannabe oligarchs don't understand that living under the thumb of a dictator is worse than paying high marginal tax rates.
If you are in favor of reducing our defense budget to fund universal health care -- it's pretty obvious which party you should be voting for, and it's not the one threatening Denmark.
January 6, 2026 at 4:48 PM
If you are in favor of reducing our defense budget to fund universal health care -- it's pretty obvious which party you should be voting for, and it's not the one threatening Denmark.
Reposted by Sea Monkey Denier
I wrote section 230 to protect user speech, not a company's own speech. I've long said AI chatbot outputs are not protected by 230 and that it is not a close call. Given that the Trump administration is going to the mat to protect pedophiles, states should step in to hold Musk and X accountable.
I am not a Section 230 expert but being that Twitter is creating and publishing these photos I wonder if they actually have any civil legal protection? @kenwhite.bsky.social ? @akivamcohen.bsky.social ?
What X is allowing Grok to do is unlawful or regulatory-illegal in multiple jurisdictions, creates clear DSA violations, and continues despite regulator scrutiny. The images do not need to be pornographic, non-consensual sexualised or intimate depictions are enough.
January 5, 2026 at 11:10 PM
I wrote section 230 to protect user speech, not a company's own speech. I've long said AI chatbot outputs are not protected by 230 and that it is not a close call. Given that the Trump administration is going to the mat to protect pedophiles, states should step in to hold Musk and X accountable.
Watching the first episode of the Best Medicine, a remake of a British show about a big city doctor hired to servew a small town. This makes sense in Britain which has the NHS, but how does this work in the US where private insurance rules?
January 6, 2026 at 1:41 AM
Watching the first episode of the Best Medicine, a remake of a British show about a big city doctor hired to servew a small town. This makes sense in Britain which has the NHS, but how does this work in the US where private insurance rules?
For some, bribing Trump is one of the great investments.
TRUMP: MAY SUBSIDIZE OIL COMPANIES REBUILDING IN VENEZUELA: NBC
January 6, 2026 at 12:15 AM
For some, bribing Trump is one of the great investments.