Michael Bain
@mcabain.bsky.social
Not necessarily extroverted, but extroverted if necessary
he/him
he/him
Reposted by Michael Bain
I want to do a 🧵 about the Sidney Sweeney thing, because it's *extremely* revealing & educational.
First, to be clear: I could not give less of a shit about the details -- the ad, the rhetoric, the jeans, her boobs, whatever. Good lord, who cares.
Let's look at the *structure* of the episode.
First, to be clear: I could not give less of a shit about the details -- the ad, the rhetoric, the jeans, her boobs, whatever. Good lord, who cares.
Let's look at the *structure* of the episode.
August 7, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I want to do a 🧵 about the Sidney Sweeney thing, because it's *extremely* revealing & educational.
First, to be clear: I could not give less of a shit about the details -- the ad, the rhetoric, the jeans, her boobs, whatever. Good lord, who cares.
Let's look at the *structure* of the episode.
First, to be clear: I could not give less of a shit about the details -- the ad, the rhetoric, the jeans, her boobs, whatever. Good lord, who cares.
Let's look at the *structure* of the episode.
Reposted by Michael Bain
RIP to a legend who besides giving 3 generations of my family a lot of joy also outlived his obit writer. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/a...
July 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM
RIP to a legend who besides giving 3 generations of my family a lot of joy also outlived his obit writer. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/a...
Reposted by Michael Bain
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
July 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
With Tom Lehrer's passing, I suppose this is a moment to share the story of the prank he played on the National Security Agency, and how it went undiscovered for nearly 60 years.
Reposted by Michael Bain
It doesn't matter if they are ever coming for you.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
July 10, 2025 at 12:28 AM
It doesn't matter if they are ever coming for you.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
Seriously, Michael makes some great games!
Help me survive the summer with the SUMMER SURVIVAL SALE.
All my games are half-off for the month of July so that I can keep living and paying bills.
Don’t got money? Share the sale! Post about my games! Everything and anything helps! Thank you!
itch.io/s/156160/not...
All my games are half-off for the month of July so that I can keep living and paying bills.
Don’t got money? Share the sale! Post about my games! Everything and anything helps! Thank you!
itch.io/s/156160/not...
Not Writing Games Summer Survival Sale by NotWriting
A bundle by NotWriting, $50.00 for 31 games
itch.io
July 2, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Seriously, Michael makes some great games!
Reposted by Michael Bain
Hey want some weird fiction?
Want to support a cool writer, ttrpg designer, card game maker extraordinaire?
Patrons get all my games and all my weird fiction!
Want to support a cool writer, ttrpg designer, card game maker extraordinaire?
Patrons get all my games and all my weird fiction!
So step two was staying up way too late last night digitizing these and writing a big timeline in Google Docs that I just shared on my Patreon.
If you're into post-post apocalypse stories and weird elves in old dead cities, maybe sign up to take a look?
www.patreon.com/posts/proble...
If you're into post-post apocalypse stories and weird elves in old dead cities, maybe sign up to take a look?
www.patreon.com/posts/proble...
June 27, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Hey want some weird fiction?
Want to support a cool writer, ttrpg designer, card game maker extraordinaire?
Patrons get all my games and all my weird fiction!
Want to support a cool writer, ttrpg designer, card game maker extraordinaire?
Patrons get all my games and all my weird fiction!
Reposted by Michael Bain
I've seen folks talk about how "in four years" they'll be able to get back to their planned projects and I really don't think that's going to work out. People & projects losing funding now will not be able to hit pause and come back once funding is restored. Hard-won progress & capacity will be lost
I worry that not enough of a big deal is being made about how long-term the devastation of these budget cuts to our scientific and health agencies will be, beyond the absolute ruin they will cause in the acute period.
June 3, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I've seen folks talk about how "in four years" they'll be able to get back to their planned projects and I really don't think that's going to work out. People & projects losing funding now will not be able to hit pause and come back once funding is restored. Hard-won progress & capacity will be lost
Reposted by Michael Bain
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
June 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
Reposted by Michael Bain
Your reminder that someone can appear to be at the top (of the world, of their field, etc) and feel rather dramatically differently. I'm glad Jim worked through his issues, is still here with us and is still writing the books so many people love.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/b...
14 Million Books Later, Jim Butcher Thinks His Wizard Detective Needs a Hug
www.nytimes.com
May 19, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Your reminder that someone can appear to be at the top (of the world, of their field, etc) and feel rather dramatically differently. I'm glad Jim worked through his issues, is still here with us and is still writing the books so many people love.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/b...
Reposted by Michael Bain
I am speechless...
>> First fault movement ever filmed. M7.9 surface rupture filmed near Thazi, Myanmar
m.youtube.com/watch?v=77ub...
>> First fault movement ever filmed. M7.9 surface rupture filmed near Thazi, Myanmar
m.youtube.com/watch?v=77ub...
First fault movement ever filmed. M7.9 surface rupture filmed near Thazi, Myanmar
YouTube video by 2025 Sagaing Earthquake Archive
m.youtube.com
May 12, 2025 at 1:17 AM
I am speechless...
>> First fault movement ever filmed. M7.9 surface rupture filmed near Thazi, Myanmar
m.youtube.com/watch?v=77ub...
>> First fault movement ever filmed. M7.9 surface rupture filmed near Thazi, Myanmar
m.youtube.com/watch?v=77ub...
Reposted by Michael Bain
I dunno, man, the "you guys are being too mean to the plagiarism machines that stole all your work and were created to try to replace you so rich people don't pay you a tiny fraction of their wealth for it" posters popping up are pretty funny
April 27, 2025 at 3:59 AM
I dunno, man, the "you guys are being too mean to the plagiarism machines that stole all your work and were created to try to replace you so rich people don't pay you a tiny fraction of their wealth for it" posters popping up are pretty funny
Reposted by Michael Bain
Master and Commander/TNG Intro
this was rendering all day while I was out lol
this was rendering all day while I was out lol
April 19, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Master and Commander/TNG Intro
this was rendering all day while I was out lol
this was rendering all day while I was out lol
Reposted by Michael Bain
Reposted by Michael Bain
Hey, just a quiet reminder: it’s not true that people get more conservative as they age. *Populations* get more conservative as they age because poor and marginalized people die sooner.
nymag.com/intelligence...
nymag.com/intelligence...
Seniors Are More Conservative Because the Poor Die Off
Sometimes older voters aren’t just naturally more conservative. It’s just that wealthier and whiter people tend to live longer and healthier lives.
nymag.com
April 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Hey, just a quiet reminder: it’s not true that people get more conservative as they age. *Populations* get more conservative as they age because poor and marginalized people die sooner.
nymag.com/intelligence...
nymag.com/intelligence...
Reposted by Michael Bain
Do not normalize children dying from measles. Measles was previously eliminated in the US, thanks to vaccines.
When children die from measles, it means that adults have catastrophically failed to protect them because they have rejected basic science.
When children die from measles, it means that adults have catastrophically failed to protect them because they have rejected basic science.
April 7, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Do not normalize children dying from measles. Measles was previously eliminated in the US, thanks to vaccines.
When children die from measles, it means that adults have catastrophically failed to protect them because they have rejected basic science.
When children die from measles, it means that adults have catastrophically failed to protect them because they have rejected basic science.
Reposted by Michael Bain
A tricky thing about modern society is that no one has any idea when they don’t die.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
April 7, 2025 at 4:13 AM
A tricky thing about modern society is that no one has any idea when they don’t die.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
Like, the number of lives saved by controlling air pollution in America is probably over 200,000 per year, but the number of people who think their life was saved by controlling air pollution is zero.
Reposted by Michael Bain
Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
April 3, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
Reposted by Michael Bain
It is 2002. I am 18 years old. We are in a once-in-a-generation economic crisis.
It is 2008. I am 24 years old. We are in a once-in-a-generation economic crisis.
It is 2020. I am 36 years old. We are in a once-in-a-generation economic crisis.
It is 2025. I am 41 years old. We are in a—
It is 2008. I am 24 years old. We are in a once-in-a-generation economic crisis.
It is 2020. I am 36 years old. We are in a once-in-a-generation economic crisis.
It is 2025. I am 41 years old. We are in a—
April 2, 2025 at 10:01 PM
It is 2002. I am 18 years old. We are in a once-in-a-generation economic crisis.
It is 2008. I am 24 years old. We are in a once-in-a-generation economic crisis.
It is 2020. I am 36 years old. We are in a once-in-a-generation economic crisis.
It is 2025. I am 41 years old. We are in a—
It is 2008. I am 24 years old. We are in a once-in-a-generation economic crisis.
It is 2020. I am 36 years old. We are in a once-in-a-generation economic crisis.
It is 2025. I am 41 years old. We are in a—
Reposted by Michael Bain
It was the Dunning of tymes. It was the Kruger of tymes.
April 3, 2025 at 4:55 AM
It was the Dunning of tymes. It was the Kruger of tymes.
Reposted by Michael Bain
SignalGate Is Bad; But OPSEC Isn’t Even the Worst Part Of It talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/signa...
SignalGate Is Bad; But OPSEC Isn’t Even the Worst Part Of It
I haven’t had time to comment on the Jeff Goldberg’s story about...
talkingpointsmemo.com
March 25, 2025 at 3:51 AM
SignalGate Is Bad; But OPSEC Isn’t Even the Worst Part Of It talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/signa...
Reposted by Michael Bain
If the federal party leaders left politics after the election and resumed their private sector careers:
Carney: International finance and commerce
Singh: Criminal defence lawyer
May: Environmental lawyer / Pedneault: Journalist
Blanchet: Owner artist management firm
Poilievre: Calgary Sun paperboy
Carney: International finance and commerce
Singh: Criminal defence lawyer
May: Environmental lawyer / Pedneault: Journalist
Blanchet: Owner artist management firm
Poilievre: Calgary Sun paperboy
March 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
If the federal party leaders left politics after the election and resumed their private sector careers:
Carney: International finance and commerce
Singh: Criminal defence lawyer
May: Environmental lawyer / Pedneault: Journalist
Blanchet: Owner artist management firm
Poilievre: Calgary Sun paperboy
Carney: International finance and commerce
Singh: Criminal defence lawyer
May: Environmental lawyer / Pedneault: Journalist
Blanchet: Owner artist management firm
Poilievre: Calgary Sun paperboy
Reposted by Michael Bain
what's funny about this is chatbots just scour language-based interactions and respond with a version of what seems to be the typical reply, right?
so what this tells us is not that a computer program has anxiety but that, in its dataset, the usual response to 'i'm freaking out' is 'girl, same!! 😬'
so what this tells us is not that a computer program has anxiety but that, in its dataset, the usual response to 'i'm freaking out' is 'girl, same!! 😬'
March 18, 2025 at 1:41 PM
what's funny about this is chatbots just scour language-based interactions and respond with a version of what seems to be the typical reply, right?
so what this tells us is not that a computer program has anxiety but that, in its dataset, the usual response to 'i'm freaking out' is 'girl, same!! 😬'
so what this tells us is not that a computer program has anxiety but that, in its dataset, the usual response to 'i'm freaking out' is 'girl, same!! 😬'
Reposted by Michael Bain
One problem with the idea of reserving due process for law-abiding people is that due process is how we figure out which people are law-abiding.
March 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
One problem with the idea of reserving due process for law-abiding people is that due process is how we figure out which people are law-abiding.
Reposted by Michael Bain
