NoPants's recent activity
-
Comment on Great shows with interesting premises? in ~tv
-
Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 18 in ~society
NoPants Link ParentHe is blatantly choosing to disrupt the social welfare branches of government, and choosing stability for those parts of the government that benefit the very rich. Where most republicans tried a...He is blatantly choosing to disrupt the social welfare branches of government, and choosing stability for those parts of the government that benefit the very rich.
Where most republicans tried a more subtle approach, I think Trump will try to destroy those arms of government that benefit the poor, to beyond the point where they can all be put back together again.
We have billionaires controlling the media, now billionaires are controlling the government. This does not end well.
-
Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 18 in ~society
NoPants Link ParentHow millions of US children would be hurt by Trump’s mass deportation plan: ‘Deep harm is intentional’When Trump executes his sweeping agenda, 4 million children who are US citizens may have their lives upended
-
Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 18 in ~society
NoPants LinkDonald Trump's Deportation Plan Causes 'Panic' Among Farmers I know it is heartless to measure actual human suffering in economic terms, but it is all Trump cares about, and frankly I suspect that...Donald Trump's Deportation Plan Causes 'Panic' Among Farmers
Agricultural output will fall between $30 and $60 billion if Trump's flagship policy is carried out, according to the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC).
I know it is heartless to measure actual human suffering in economic terms, but it is all Trump cares about, and frankly I suspect that and safety are all most voters care about.
-
Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 18 in ~society
NoPants Link ParentDang, Bessent is a solid pick. Maybe prediction markets are correct in assuming the chance of large tariffs is low.Dang, Bessent is a solid pick. Maybe prediction markets are correct in assuming the chance of large tariffs is low.
-
Comment on Automatic braking systems save lives. Now they’ll need to work at 62 MPH. in ~transport
NoPants Link ParentEven if you believe AEBs are more harm for you than good, they will help the guy behind you stop in time. Sometimes there is no avoiding the guy behind you, no matter how much you mind your six.Even if you believe AEBs are more harm for you than good, they will help the guy behind you stop in time.
Sometimes there is no avoiding the guy behind you, no matter how much you mind your six.
-
Comment on Thoughts on the perception of public figures in ~society
NoPants Link ParentOh yeah, I protested against the Iraq invasion. But immediately after 9/11 he was extremely popular. Not according to me. According to polls.Oh yeah, I protested against the Iraq invasion. But immediately after 9/11 he was extremely popular. Not according to me. According to polls.
-
Comment on Thoughts on the perception of public figures in ~society
NoPants LinkThe internet pretty much changed everything in terms of perception. A decade ago, the news media determined which scandals were news worthy. Public opinions on scandals were also shaped by...The internet pretty much changed everything in terms of perception.
A decade ago, the news media determined which scandals were news worthy. Public opinions on scandals were also shaped by traditional media narratives. Public figures resigned because of the relentless focus of reporters. The assumption was, that if the reporters didn't forget, the public wouldn't forget.
The internet changed our perception of public figures. It allowed us to learn about any scandal, no matter how news worthy. The internet also changed how public figures perceive the public. We've seen, real time, how effective simply denying a scandal really is.
The internet also changed the reporters focus. They can no longer afford to drive the narrative, they have to hop on the next scandal to get those juicy clicks and ad impressions.
Musk started tweeting controversial tweets in 2018, around the same time Trump demonstrated how effective controversial tweets were, and how ineffective the traditional media was in combating them.
The internet also allowed us to choose our perception.
Conservatives love Musk. I would bet that most conservatives are barely aware of some of the controversies surrounding Musk.
So some public figures, like Musk, have changed how they behave. Generally however, people don't change. Musk hasn't changed the way he runs his business. So chances are, Musk hasn't fundamentally changed, and simply put, Musk was like that all along.
Sometimes it is the publics perception that has changed. In 9/11, everyone loved Bush. Eight years later, Bush didn't change, just our perception of him changed.
So I would argue that no one has really changed, simply that our perception of public figures have changed, and their perception of the public has changed the way they act.
-
Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 18 in ~society
NoPants Link ParentKrugman's take is Trump will be bad for the economy. Paul Krugman on How Badly Trump Voters Have Been Scammed Krugman is very good at explaining complex concepts, but is also partisan. While no...Krugman's take is Trump will be bad for the economy.
Paul Krugman on How Badly Trump Voters Have Been Scammed
His two big policy goals, policy obsessions, are deporting immigrants and tariffs. Both of those are going to do a lot to raise prices of food and some other things, but the most immediate flashpoint is going to be grocery prices.
Krugman is very good at explaining complex concepts, but is also partisan. While no one knows what exactly Trump will do or how exactly it will impact the markets, there is definitely a non-zero percent chance that Trump could do something that at least temporarily upsets all markets. There is also definitely a non zero percent chance that Trump tanks the worldwide economy.
I'm looking to Trumps treasury secretary, and the stock market reaction to that. Currently the markets don't seem all that concerned, but markets reaction to this key decision may be informative to figure out what the markets think of those underlying probabilities.
-
Comment on How well do you cook? in ~life.men
NoPants (edited )Link ParentI'm simply hoping to I teach my kid that he can do whatever he sets his mind too. If in the process of that, he retains some useful skills, that is just icing. On the cake. That he made. Because...I'm simply hoping to I teach my kid that he can do whatever he sets his mind too. If in the process of that, he retains some useful skills, that is just icing. On the cake. That he made. Because he can make cake. And it is delicious. Sorry. Got a little distracted there.
Actually, I am not even sure I gave him that level of confidence that he could teach himself how to bake. I just actively encourage him to learn anything new he seems interested in, and am there to do the cleanup after he is done. Soooooo many dishes. Omg. Now if only I can teach him to clean as he goes....
I guess having me there simply removes all impediments to learning. I can catch his mistakes before he makes them, I let him make those mistakes if he insists on learning the hard way, and I take care of the cleanup or fix things if everything goes totally awry. Plus it's more fun cooking with a sous chef in the kitchen.
So perhaps I am simply hoping to instill a love for continual learning.
-
Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 18 in ~society
NoPants LinkUndocumented migrants hope Trump mass deportations only 'for criminals'Undocumented migrants hope Trump mass deportations only 'for criminals'
"A lot of Latinos, those who can vote, did so because they think he [Trump] can improve the economy. That would be very good for us too," said Carlos, an undocumented Mexican who lives in New York City. His son is a US citizen.
Carlos says he is "a little" worried about getting swept up in immigration raids. But that fear is tempered by the possibility of an improved economy under Trump and more work.
"Things may be a bit tense right in our communities right now, but being worried isn't a solution," he said. "The best thing to do is avoid problems and not commit any crimes."
-
Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 11 in ~society
NoPants Link ParentTrump's pro-Israel cabinet picks upset Muslims who voted for himTrump's pro-Israel cabinet picks upset Muslims who voted for him
Muslim support for Trump helped him win Michigan and may have factored into other swing state wins, strategists believe.
Muslim voters had hoped Trump would choose cabinet officials who work toward peace, and there was no sign of that.
"I don't think everyone's going to be happy with every appointment Trump makes, but the outcome is what matters," she said.
"I do know that Trump wants peace, and what people need to realize is that there's 50,000 dead Palestinians and 3,000 dead Lebanese, and that's happened during the current administration." -
Comment on How well do you cook? in ~life.men
NoPants LinkYes. 100% Not until I left home, and had to learn the hard way (pre-internet) I do most of the cooking, mostly simple dishes, but my favorite dishes are my sons signature dishes. My son is still...Do you "know" how to cook or are you comfortable cooking for yourself, for others?
Yes. 100%
Were you encouraged to learn how to cook growing up or did you learn as an adult?
Not until I left home, and had to learn the hard way (pre-internet)
Do you have any favorite or signature dishes you prepare?
I do most of the cooking, mostly simple dishes, but my favorite dishes are my sons signature dishes. My son is still pre-teen.
I grew up in a family that didn't really encourage me to learn... anything really.
I encouraged my kid to learn everything I knew, but mostly he learned it because he was really, really interested. And because he had Uncle Youtube to teach him stuff even I didn't know.
Which is important. Because while I learnt cooking the hard way, I have learned how to maintain vehicles and houses from Uncle Youtube.
There is no reason, in todays day and age, to feel like lack of parental guidance is limiting your capabilities. Now, it is simply a question of what are you passionate enough to master?
-
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
NoPants LinkI reread Frankenstein. I had forgotten how morally ambiguous it was. It is morally ambiguous by even todays standards, and Frankenstein was written two hundred years ago.I reread Frankenstein.
I had forgotten how morally ambiguous it was.
It is morally ambiguous by even todays standards, and Frankenstein was written two hundred years ago.
-
Comment on A history of US cabinet appointments ...and why they matter in ~humanities.history
NoPants LinkI love this. A strong cabinet adds checks and balances. Without a strong cabinet, unethical or illegal actions can go unchecked, which can lead to authoritarianism, corruption, cronyism/...I love this.
A strong cabinet adds checks and balances.
Without a strong cabinet, unethical or illegal actions can go unchecked, which can lead to authoritarianism, corruption, cronyism/ profiteering.
The "deep state" wasn't just federal lifers, it was Trumps own appointees refusing to act in ways they thought ethically wrong or downright illegal.
A qualified cabinet also allows complex issues and critical crises to be managed more effectively.
The CEO's seem unworried by threats of tariffs, which is hard to comprehend, as Trump is surrounding himself with a bunch of like minded yes-men.
Everyone knows it would be economic idiocy to get in a tariff war with China & the EU, but without a strong cabinet to consistently remind Trump of this, will that be enough?
-
Comment on Follow up on the username thread: What Tildes users do you recognize when browsing and, without being rude or inflammatory, what is your impression of them? in ~tildes
NoPants Link ParentI now imagine you as having a beard. Because the one guy I knew like that, well, he had a beard. Back before beards were cool. This was when I was like 9 years old, so this guy had mythic...I now imagine you as having a beard.
Because the one guy I knew like that, well, he had a beard. Back before beards were cool.
This was when I was like 9 years old, so this guy had mythic abilities. Pre-internet. In small town nowheresville, located in the armpit of a country so small it is often is not even included on maps.
Because I don't know your gender identity, I am imagining you as a small squat dwarf, who conveniently have beards for both sexes. Plus the guy I knew was kinda like a small squat dwarf.
-
Comment on Haka interrupts vote on New Zealand Treaty Principles Bill in ~society
NoPants LinkThe leading conservative party in New Zealand are reading a bill that waters down the treaty which protects indigenous Maori rights. The opposition party ended their speech with a haka. The haka...The leading conservative party in New Zealand are reading a bill that waters down the treaty which protects indigenous Maori rights.
The opposition party ended their speech with a haka.
The haka is a traditional Māori ritual, and is a powerful display of emotion, used to unite, express anger and defiance, as well as other things.
This is the single most interesting thing to happen in New Zealand politics, since that one drunken leader, told that one funny joke, that one time.
-
Haka interrupts vote on New Zealand Treaty Principles Bill
17 votes -
Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 11 in ~society
NoPants Link ParentIt's always interesting to see actual GOP representatives react to this stuff And, I almost forgot, Musk is now a "GOP" member also... This is Musk, who once called an actual hero a pedo... The...It's always interesting to see actual GOP representatives react to this stuff
Former GOP Representative Joe Walsh of Illinois told The Independent that “no one should be surprised” by Gaetz’s nomination.
“F*** ‘em,” Walsh said. “This is what America voted for.”
"Are you s****ing me?" Republican Representative Mike Simpson told The Hillwhen they informed him of the news.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis also told reporters on Capitol Hill: “I’m sure it’ll make for a popcorn-eating confirmation.”
And, I almost forgot, Musk is now a "GOP" member also...
“The hammer of justice is coming.”
This is Musk, who once called an actual hero a pedo... The mind boggles.
-
Comment on Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of November 11 in ~society
NoPants Link ParentOr just grant Trump recess appointments?This is the first litmus test for Republicans: can they reject an unqualified candidate whom they nearly universally revile, or will they capitulate to Trump's every whim?
Or just grant Trump recess appointments?
You might like The Booth at the End