maniagnosis
@maniagnosis.bsky.social
Tommy M. McGuire (Not that one. Nor that one.)
Coding bum, tetrapod. (he/him)
Bitterly cynical misanthrope. It's always more complicated. I apologize in advance; I tend to get too comfortable.
Called 'weird' by Kevin Kruse.
Coding bum, tetrapod. (he/him)
Bitterly cynical misanthrope. It's always more complicated. I apologize in advance; I tend to get too comfortable.
Called 'weird' by Kevin Kruse.
Reposted by maniagnosis
Seiriol, who was then and no doubt is now a uniquely gruff man, summoned me to his office with an email entitled something like TRIVIA ENTERS MY CONSCIOUSNESS, ENGENDERS FURY. So I turned up at the appointed hour, quaking, and ignoring as best I could his theatrical stack of empty whisky bottles. 2/
December 1, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Seiriol, who was then and no doubt is now a uniquely gruff man, summoned me to his office with an email entitled something like TRIVIA ENTERS MY CONSCIOUSNESS, ENGENDERS FURY. So I turned up at the appointed hour, quaking, and ignoring as best I could his theatrical stack of empty whisky bottles. 2/
There has been some futzing around, but that seems to be the bottom line of how it works: they created an estimate of a minimally acceptable budget and adjust it annually for inflation. Is that good enough? Probably not. Is it off by 5x? I don't think so.
aspe.hhs.gov/topics/pover...
aspe.hhs.gov/topics/pover...
History of Poverty Thresholds
The Development and History of the U.S. Poverty Thresholds — A Brief Overview by Gordon M. Fisher, Department of Health and Human Services [GSS/SSS Newsletter [Newsletter of the Government Statistics ...
aspe.hhs.gov
December 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM
There has been some futzing around, but that seems to be the bottom line of how it works: they created an estimate of a minimally acceptable budget and adjust it annually for inflation. Is that good enough? Probably not. Is it off by 5x? I don't think so.
aspe.hhs.gov/topics/pover...
aspe.hhs.gov/topics/pover...
Anyway, the Orshansky numbers were chosen.
Here's the one questionable decision: whether to periodically update the numbers based on changes in standard of living and/or inflation. The SSA/OMB/etc. chose only inflation; the thresholds are adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index.
Here's the one questionable decision: whether to periodically update the numbers based on changes in standard of living and/or inflation. The SSA/OMB/etc. chose only inflation; the thresholds are adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index.
December 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Anyway, the Orshansky numbers were chosen.
Here's the one questionable decision: whether to periodically update the numbers based on changes in standard of living and/or inflation. The SSA/OMB/etc. chose only inflation; the thresholds are adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index.
Here's the one questionable decision: whether to periodically update the numbers based on changes in standard of living and/or inflation. The SSA/OMB/etc. chose only inflation; the thresholds are adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index.
An alternative definition I ran across seems to be 1/2 of the appropriate median household income, which kind of worked out to the same value in the mid-1960's.
www.census.gov/content/dam/...
www.census.gov/content/dam/...
www.census.gov
December 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM
An alternative definition I ran across seems to be 1/2 of the appropriate median household income, which kind of worked out to the same value in the mid-1960's.
www.census.gov/content/dam/...
www.census.gov/content/dam/...
The poverty thresholds were developed in the early 1960s based on the cost of the USDA's estimate of a minimal diet (that being the only good data handy), multiplied by 3 based on the "food is 1/3 of a household's budget" calculation that seems to have been robust.
www.census.gov/content/dam/...
www.census.gov/content/dam/...
www.census.gov
December 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM
The poverty thresholds were developed in the early 1960s based on the cost of the USDA's estimate of a minimal diet (that being the only good data handy), multiplied by 3 based on the "food is 1/3 of a household's budget" calculation that seems to have been robust.
www.census.gov/content/dam/...
www.census.gov/content/dam/...
I've seen this discussion floating around lately and I'm having some problems with it.
A poverty line of $150,000 would mean something like 75% of US households are unable to meet a "minimally adequate standard of living"; $100,000 would mean 57% cannot.
www.statista.com/statistics/2...
A poverty line of $150,000 would mean something like 75% of US households are unable to meet a "minimally adequate standard of living"; $100,000 would mean 57% cannot.
www.statista.com/statistics/2...
Share of households by income in the U.S. 2024| Statista
In 2024, just over 45 percent of American households had an annual income that was less than 75,000 U.S.
www.statista.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM
I've seen this discussion floating around lately and I'm having some problems with it.
A poverty line of $150,000 would mean something like 75% of US households are unable to meet a "minimally adequate standard of living"; $100,000 would mean 57% cannot.
www.statista.com/statistics/2...
A poverty line of $150,000 would mean something like 75% of US households are unable to meet a "minimally adequate standard of living"; $100,000 would mean 57% cannot.
www.statista.com/statistics/2...
Reposted by maniagnosis
Lamb Is The Steak Of Fish Of Meat, Charlie Brown
November 26, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Lamb Is The Steak Of Fish Of Meat, Charlie Brown
Heathen.
Enterprise's song struck the right tone for the show perfectly, in much the same way that the theremin was perfect for TOS.
Enterprise's song struck the right tone for the show perfectly, in much the same way that the theremin was perfect for TOS.
December 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Heathen.
Enterprise's song struck the right tone for the show perfectly, in much the same way that the theremin was perfect for TOS.
Enterprise's song struck the right tone for the show perfectly, in much the same way that the theremin was perfect for TOS.