@matt979.bsky.social
6. Nine days since the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed. Still no actual release of the files.
November 29, 2025 at 1:42 AM
6. Nine days since the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed. Still no actual release of the files.
5. Our president called Tim Walz the R-word. Chaya Raichik responded by posting, "We are so back!" An Indiana legislator responded by announcing he will no longer support the state's gerrymandering plan, because "words have consequences."
November 29, 2025 at 1:42 AM
5. Our president called Tim Walz the R-word. Chaya Raichik responded by posting, "We are so back!" An Indiana legislator responded by announcing he will no longer support the state's gerrymandering plan, because "words have consequences."
4. After that presdential rant, the official government social media account of the Department of Homeland Security posted that "the goal has never been more clear: Remigration now." You can look it up for yourself but 'remigration' is a fascist concept.
November 29, 2025 at 1:42 AM
4. After that presdential rant, the official government social media account of the Department of Homeland Security posted that "the goal has never been more clear: Remigration now." You can look it up for yourself but 'remigration' is a fascist concept.
"Free, only want to be free. We huddle close, hanging on to a dream. [...] We're traveling light today in the eye of a storm. [...] Home, to a new & shiny place. Make our bed & we'll say our grace, freedom's light burning warm." -- Neil Diamond - "America" (Billboard top 10 hit in 1981)
November 29, 2025 at 1:42 AM
"Free, only want to be free. We huddle close, hanging on to a dream. [...] We're traveling light today in the eye of a storm. [...] Home, to a new & shiny place. Make our bed & we'll say our grace, freedom's light burning warm." -- Neil Diamond - "America" (Billboard top 10 hit in 1981)
3. Our president threatened (on social media) a "permanent pause" [sic] on all migration from "Third World countries." Meanwhile, Michael Schur reposted me on Bluesky. Schur had suggested better U.S. national anthems & shared my suggestion of (among other things) a sappy song w/an urgent message:
November 29, 2025 at 1:42 AM
3. Our president threatened (on social media) a "permanent pause" [sic] on all migration from "Third World countries." Meanwhile, Michael Schur reposted me on Bluesky. Schur had suggested better U.S. national anthems & shared my suggestion of (among other things) a sappy song w/an urgent message:
2. In other Central American narcotics news, the former president of Honduras was serving a 45-year prison sentence for sending 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S. Our president pardoned him, & now is openly bribing Honduran voters to put him back in power.
November 29, 2025 at 1:42 AM
2. In other Central American narcotics news, the former president of Honduras was serving a 45-year prison sentence for sending 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S. Our president pardoned him, & now is openly bribing Honduran voters to put him back in power.
Reminder, even if they were enemy combatants (they were not), it would be a war crime to fire on them during attempted bailout. They get the same protection as a pilot parachuting from a plane that had been shot down. Again, this is why we remind soldiers that unlawful orders must not be followed.
November 29, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Reminder, even if they were enemy combatants (they were not), it would be a war crime to fire on them during attempted bailout. They get the same protection as a pilot parachuting from a plane that had been shot down. Again, this is why we remind soldiers that unlawful orders must not be followed.
Anyway, all the Ticket to Ride games were 3-player (3rd place = eliminated). The final will be viewable at boardgamearena.com/14/tickettor... for 24 hours or so.
Ticket to Ride
Play Ticket to Ride online from your browser with the whole world!
boardgamearena.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Anyway, all the Ticket to Ride games were 3-player (3rd place = eliminated). The final will be viewable at boardgamearena.com/14/tickettor... for 24 hours or so.
Ideal features: Make it visually obvious that a final is in fact a final. Make it easier for someone to see their own tournament history. Make wins & top N finishes much more distinctive within the on-profile achievements / sources of XP.
November 28, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Ideal features: Make it visually obvious that a final is in fact a final. Make it easier for someone to see their own tournament history. Make wins & top N finishes much more distinctive within the on-profile achievements / sources of XP.
Most times, when a tournament ends (that I had played in) I get an onsite notification identifying me as "Top Division," which depending on the format is typically the same thing as a participation ribbon.
November 28, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Most times, when a tournament ends (that I had played in) I get an onsite notification identifying me as "Top Division," which depending on the format is typically the same thing as a participation ribbon.
"just across the *river*" obv
November 28, 2025 at 8:51 PM
"just across the *river*" obv
5. U.S. troops still have an obligation not to follow illegal orders. The standard is still what a reasonable soldier would recognize as illegal (for example: sinking civilians' boats). And if stating as much is grounds for prosecution then a lot of people who run basic training are at risk.
November 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
5. U.S. troops still have an obligation not to follow illegal orders. The standard is still what a reasonable soldier would recognize as illegal (for example: sinking civilians' boats). And if stating as much is grounds for prosecution then a lot of people who run basic training are at risk.
4. I still don't fully understand what's going on in Venezuela (and neither do you) but there's still no cause of action, Congressional approval, or victory/exit conditions. Plenty of oil (what a coincidence!) though.
November 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
4. I still don't fully understand what's going on in Venezuela (and neither do you) but there's still no cause of action, Congressional approval, or victory/exit conditions. Plenty of oil (what a coincidence!) though.
3. ICE-holes in Texas took Maher Tarabishi, who had been here legally since 2008 and whose son has Pompe disease. (The son's condition has rapidly deteriorated without Tarabishi.)
November 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
3. ICE-holes in Texas took Maher Tarabishi, who had been here legally since 2008 and whose son has Pompe disease. (The son's condition has rapidly deteriorated without Tarabishi.)
2. ICE-holes in Gretna, Louisiana (just across the street from New Orleans) locked down an entire Home Depot and waylaid any suspicious-looking (i.e. dark-skinned) customer.
November 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
2. ICE-holes in Gretna, Louisiana (just across the street from New Orleans) locked down an entire Home Depot and waylaid any suspicious-looking (i.e. dark-skinned) customer.
But my general "remember some bakers" shortlist is Peter, Lottie, Jürgen, Syabira, Sandro, Janusz, Saku, Dana, Sumayah, Nelly, Iain, Aaron, and Jasmine. A baker's dozen bakers. Maybe Christiaan too, even though that would break the "baker's dozen" numeric amusement.
November 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
But my general "remember some bakers" shortlist is Peter, Lottie, Jürgen, Syabira, Sandro, Janusz, Saku, Dana, Sumayah, Nelly, Iain, Aaron, and Jasmine. A baker's dozen bakers. Maybe Christiaan too, even though that would break the "baker's dozen" numeric amusement.
In series 16 Tom really grew(! - he's so tall) on me, even as his performance (as judged) slipped. I'm glad that he and Jasmine both nailed their final bakes (wish all 3 had). It's analogous to a Final Jeopardy! question that one challenger gets right but the money leader also gets right.
November 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
In series 16 Tom really grew(! - he's so tall) on me, even as his performance (as judged) slipped. I'm glad that he and Jasmine both nailed their final bakes (wish all 3 had). It's analogous to a Final Jeopardy! question that one challenger gets right but the money leader also gets right.
Syabira is still my gold standard bakeoff baker (Jasmine's flavors are relatively cautious). Jasmine & Aaron round out my top 3. Something that sounds contradictory but isn't: I'd put Aaron #2, yet I'm glad Jasmine won. (She deserved to win more.)
November 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Syabira is still my gold standard bakeoff baker (Jasmine's flavors are relatively cautious). Jasmine & Aaron round out my top 3. Something that sounds contradictory but isn't: I'd put Aaron #2, yet I'm glad Jasmine won. (She deserved to win more.)
Maybe this is recency bias but given what we now know, season 16 is the all-timer from my watching era. Jasmine became even more dominant than Peter or (pre-semi) Jürgen. She is also wonderfully kind, and (with no disrespect to Matt Lucas) who you should think of for "Bakeoff + alopecia."
November 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Maybe this is recency bias but given what we now know, season 16 is the all-timer from my watching era. Jasmine became even more dominant than Peter or (pre-semi) Jürgen. She is also wonderfully kind, and (with no disrespect to Matt Lucas) who you should think of for "Bakeoff + alopecia."
Tom showed the most early promise, though not the Peter/Jürgen level of towering over the field. Aaron was very nearly eliminated early, which is why my "if you forced me to pick one" became Iain. Jasmine did by mid-series establish herself as clear standard bearer, so as such I'm glad she won.
November 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Tom showed the most early promise, though not the Peter/Jürgen level of towering over the field. Aaron was very nearly eliminated early, which is why my "if you forced me to pick one" became Iain. Jasmine did by mid-series establish herself as clear standard bearer, so as such I'm glad she won.