waxtablet
@waxtablet.bsky.social
"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world." -- Jack Layton
Pinned
Reposted by waxtablet
Well now. . .
"Susan Collins backs referendum to overturn Maine’s protections for transgender students" – in today's Bangor Daily News.
"Susan Collins backs referendum to overturn Maine’s protections for transgender students" – in today's Bangor Daily News.
In case anyone is wondering what kind of campaign Collins intends to run next year, now we know. No achievements, only hate:
Susan Collins backs referendum to overturn Maine’s protections for transgender students
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/24/p...
Susan Collins backs referendum to overturn Maine’s protections for transgender students
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/24/p...
Susan Collins backs referendum to overturn Maine’s protections for transgender students
Collins' office said she signed onto the petition because she agrees with President Donald Trump’s interpretation of Title IX.
www.bangordailynews.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Well now. . .
"Susan Collins backs referendum to overturn Maine’s protections for transgender students" – in today's Bangor Daily News.
"Susan Collins backs referendum to overturn Maine’s protections for transgender students" – in today's Bangor Daily News.
Reposted by waxtablet
The "Department of Government Efficiency" has disbanded eight months early.
DOGE sowed chaos throughout the government and disrupted services relied upon by millions, while finding hardly any savings.
Here's what you should know about damage that DOGE leaves behind.
DOGE sowed chaos throughout the government and disrupted services relied upon by millions, while finding hardly any savings.
Here's what you should know about damage that DOGE leaves behind.
The DOGE Damage Elon is Leaving Behind
Robert Reich
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The "Department of Government Efficiency" has disbanded eight months early.
DOGE sowed chaos throughout the government and disrupted services relied upon by millions, while finding hardly any savings.
Here's what you should know about damage that DOGE leaves behind.
DOGE sowed chaos throughout the government and disrupted services relied upon by millions, while finding hardly any savings.
Here's what you should know about damage that DOGE leaves behind.
Reposted by waxtablet
🧵 The Winged Monkeys in Baum’s Oz weren’t followers of the Wicked Witch – they were compelled by the magical Golden Cap. Whoever wore it could summon them three times.
The Wicked Witch used it first, then Dorothy.
🐒🪽More Oz in the #publicdomain ⤵️
blog.archive.org/2025/11/17/t...
#Oz #Wicked
The Wicked Witch used it first, then Dorothy.
🐒🪽More Oz in the #publicdomain ⤵️
blog.archive.org/2025/11/17/t...
#Oz #Wicked
November 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
🧵 The Winged Monkeys in Baum’s Oz weren’t followers of the Wicked Witch – they were compelled by the magical Golden Cap. Whoever wore it could summon them three times.
The Wicked Witch used it first, then Dorothy.
🐒🪽More Oz in the #publicdomain ⤵️
blog.archive.org/2025/11/17/t...
#Oz #Wicked
The Wicked Witch used it first, then Dorothy.
🐒🪽More Oz in the #publicdomain ⤵️
blog.archive.org/2025/11/17/t...
#Oz #Wicked
Reposted by waxtablet
Once again: the House GOP has not passed a full appropriations package since Kevin McCarthy became speaker (and Biden was POTUS). Their failure to fulfill the basic functions of Congress didn't start with Trump. He just weaponized their inherent meekness.
November 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Once again: the House GOP has not passed a full appropriations package since Kevin McCarthy became speaker (and Biden was POTUS). Their failure to fulfill the basic functions of Congress didn't start with Trump. He just weaponized their inherent meekness.
Reposted by waxtablet
PUNCHBOWL: “.. GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term. Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM
PUNCHBOWL: “.. GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term. Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
Reposted by waxtablet
In honor of Larry Summers, I asked the female members of my college class (1987) to say if they had any experiences with sexual harassment by teachers/professors, back when this was tolerated as, I dunno, the cost of attending college, and OH MY GOD.
November 21, 2025 at 12:13 AM
In honor of Larry Summers, I asked the female members of my college class (1987) to say if they had any experiences with sexual harassment by teachers/professors, back when this was tolerated as, I dunno, the cost of attending college, and OH MY GOD.
Reposted by waxtablet
It gets lost in the shuffle, but the Speaker of the House is someone who, by all rights, should’ve had his career ended a decade ago by a Shreveport TV news investigative team.
Fond memories of that time Mike Johnson was president of a local law school that never opened its doors, in part because it was attached to a Baptist college that was losing its accreditation, and in part because it was always a scam from the start
Mike Johnson -- who is, yes, theoretically a lawyer -- has not had a chance to look at the American Constitution because he's been very busy lately, folks, he just can't see everything, gosh, how is he supposed to know if it's wrong that the president called for the execution of congress members?
November 21, 2025 at 3:09 PM
It gets lost in the shuffle, but the Speaker of the House is someone who, by all rights, should’ve had his career ended a decade ago by a Shreveport TV news investigative team.
Reposted by waxtablet
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
Reposted by waxtablet
Reposted by waxtablet
So glad the government decided to shut down the free, no-frills, online tax filing system this year so that it can be replaced with better, private alternatives like, uhhh... *checks notes* an incompetent, lying, chatbot with privacy issues.
TurboTax is about to be integrated into ChatGPT, where customers will be guided through tasks tied to their tax filings or financial profile by the AI chatbot.
TurboTax owner Intuit is also paying OpenAI more than $100 million a year to power AI agents.
TurboTax owner Intuit is also paying OpenAI more than $100 million a year to power AI agents.
November 18, 2025 at 11:43 PM
So glad the government decided to shut down the free, no-frills, online tax filing system this year so that it can be replaced with better, private alternatives like, uhhh... *checks notes* an incompetent, lying, chatbot with privacy issues.
Reposted by waxtablet
I miss when technology used to be fun.
November 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I miss when technology used to be fun.
Reposted by waxtablet
I think we lost something when way fewer people online as a proportion of the whole started to have direct personal experience of moderating a forum or online community - though at least Reddit still exists
I can really tell you didn’t grow up on Internet forums if you’re shocked and indignant about “sometimes even human moderators make capricious and inscrutable decisions that you don’t like”
November 16, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I think we lost something when way fewer people online as a proportion of the whole started to have direct personal experience of moderating a forum or online community - though at least Reddit still exists
Reposted by waxtablet
A few weeks ago I was talking politics with a local, highly straight, bartender.
All the sudden he said: “Well, I think a big part of the problem is that so many of the people who would’ve been our progressive leaders died of AIDS & can’t help us now.”
And I’ve thought about that every day since.
All the sudden he said: “Well, I think a big part of the problem is that so many of the people who would’ve been our progressive leaders died of AIDS & can’t help us now.”
And I’ve thought about that every day since.
November 16, 2025 at 1:47 AM
A few weeks ago I was talking politics with a local, highly straight, bartender.
All the sudden he said: “Well, I think a big part of the problem is that so many of the people who would’ve been our progressive leaders died of AIDS & can’t help us now.”
And I’ve thought about that every day since.
All the sudden he said: “Well, I think a big part of the problem is that so many of the people who would’ve been our progressive leaders died of AIDS & can’t help us now.”
And I’ve thought about that every day since.
I've read them both, many times
November 14, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I've read them both, many times
Reposted by waxtablet
Weird thing about this is Angus King caved from basically the beginning: He's one of the three (including Fetterman) who voted to capitulate a full month ago. (tinyurl.com/3y7v89zx)
So the idea that he 'got what we wanted' or there was some sophisticated calculus at work makes no sense. #MEpolitics
So the idea that he 'got what we wanted' or there was some sophisticated calculus at work makes no sense. #MEpolitics
What was behind my shutdown vote? Let me explain. | Sen. Angus King
What was behind my shutdown vote? Let me explain. | Sen. Angus King
Some say I caved, this week, and didn't get much of anything in return. That's not accurate.
www.pressherald.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Weird thing about this is Angus King caved from basically the beginning: He's one of the three (including Fetterman) who voted to capitulate a full month ago. (tinyurl.com/3y7v89zx)
So the idea that he 'got what we wanted' or there was some sophisticated calculus at work makes no sense. #MEpolitics
So the idea that he 'got what we wanted' or there was some sophisticated calculus at work makes no sense. #MEpolitics
Reposted by waxtablet
A third of Portland Jetport flights have been canceled or delayed by new FAA restrictions
A third of Portland Jetport flights have been canceled or delayed by new FAA restrictions
After the federal government reopened late Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an updated emergency order keeping flight reductions in place for now.
www.pressherald.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
A third of Portland Jetport flights have been canceled or delayed by new FAA restrictions
Reposted by waxtablet
Poverty is a policy decision.
Concentrated wealth is a policy decision.
Inequality is a policy decision.
Remember this.
Concentrated wealth is a policy decision.
Inequality is a policy decision.
Remember this.
November 12, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Poverty is a policy decision.
Concentrated wealth is a policy decision.
Inequality is a policy decision.
Remember this.
Concentrated wealth is a policy decision.
Inequality is a policy decision.
Remember this.
Reposted by waxtablet
Adelita Grijalva brought two Epstein survivors to her swearing in ceremony and Congress gave them a standing ovation.
She then immediately voted to discharge the Epstein petition.
She exuded grace and class and never stopped fighting for her right to govern.
She’s a badass.
She then immediately voted to discharge the Epstein petition.
She exuded grace and class and never stopped fighting for her right to govern.
She’s a badass.
November 13, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Adelita Grijalva brought two Epstein survivors to her swearing in ceremony and Congress gave them a standing ovation.
She then immediately voted to discharge the Epstein petition.
She exuded grace and class and never stopped fighting for her right to govern.
She’s a badass.
She then immediately voted to discharge the Epstein petition.
She exuded grace and class and never stopped fighting for her right to govern.
She’s a badass.
i own well over 200 hair ties
why can i never, ever find a hair tie?
why can i never, ever find a hair tie?
November 12, 2025 at 5:02 PM
i own well over 200 hair ties
why can i never, ever find a hair tie?
why can i never, ever find a hair tie?
Reposted by waxtablet
the only thing democrats should be saying today is “the entire republican party is engaged in a coverup of the most notorious child sex trafficking ring in world history”
November 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
the only thing democrats should be saying today is “the entire republican party is engaged in a coverup of the most notorious child sex trafficking ring in world history”
Reposted by waxtablet
Trump did the thing, everyone knows he did the thing, and he's got an entire political party and associated media apparatus trying to cover up his clear involvement in the thing. One of the sickest, most sordid chapters in an especially sick and sordid period of modern American history.
November 12, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Trump did the thing, everyone knows he did the thing, and he's got an entire political party and associated media apparatus trying to cover up his clear involvement in the thing. One of the sickest, most sordid chapters in an especially sick and sordid period of modern American history.
Reposted by waxtablet
Would it be helpful if we did a talk on what an insurance death spiral is? And why ACA premiums entering a death spiral will mean that people who rely on employer-sponsored insurance will also be fucked?
Or do folks already have a good grasp on that?
Or do folks already have a good grasp on that?
November 11, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Would it be helpful if we did a talk on what an insurance death spiral is? And why ACA premiums entering a death spiral will mean that people who rely on employer-sponsored insurance will also be fucked?
Or do folks already have a good grasp on that?
Or do folks already have a good grasp on that?
Reposted by waxtablet
Huh well it turns out I heard from a few federal workers about this and well
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
November 10, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Huh well it turns out I heard from a few federal workers about this and well
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
Reposted by waxtablet
I think if you laid out all the random old cords and cables I have end to end you would have a very long and useless line of cords and cables
November 10, 2025 at 7:40 PM
I think if you laid out all the random old cords and cables I have end to end you would have a very long and useless line of cords and cables