Just your reminder that the US military budget is bonkers. 812 billion dollars, most on earth. We could cut our military budget in half and still be the top spenders. You wanna fight climate change? You want UBI or the government to do things that help people? Cut the military budget.
Some things are complicated. Others are simple. In a time of climate crisis and a statewide transportation crisis, it's unconscionable for Massachusetts to be operating an airstrip for private jets at taxpayer expense. #MaPoli #CloseHanscom
Biggest Oscar oversight ever? I'd say 1987. Sally Kellerman gave a credible performance as someone who found Rodney Dangerfield sexually attractive in Back to School. Not even a nomination!
question for #writers about #publishing : have people been extraordinarily slow getting back to you, even by publishing standards? Are all the agents and editors spending all their time freaking out about AI and therefore unable to do anything else?
Just unfollowed a Big Account™️trying to involve us all in some beef they've got with a small account. I'm off Twitter. No time for that bullshit manufactured drama anymore.
I like Fangoria, but I chose not to renew my subscription because it's essentially a hype magazine.Which is cool, but I would like some more criticism, not just 'Hey guys! Look at this movie that's coming out!'
Somebody just downloaded my RPG for free and it made my day! I got novels, too! I'm thrilled whenever anything I make finds an audience. You wanna make my day? Grab a free ebook or RPG! https://bhalpin.gumroad.com/
@f03388cc I can't believe this because I was such a Twitter addict, but I do not know of the air horn tweet. I mean, I can kind of get it from context, but if you can point me to it, that would be even better!
I should add that none of this stuff just got better on its own. (except for the phone thing). Things got better because activists demanded it. And pissed people off. And made waves.
This is why it's weird to me that so many people my age are resistant to change and learning. The people who challenged me and pissed me off when I was in my teens and 20s were mostly right. Knowing this, I'm not gonna dismiss out of hand the people challenging me today.
A lot of movies from the 80's, 90's, and early 2000s haven't aged well. Because the attitudes they have toward women, toward people of color, toward queer people, are no longer acceptable in mainstream society. They were then. It wasn't even edgelords trying to be daring--there was just a much higher ambient level of bigotry, homophobia, and misogyny in the culture.
I should add that none of this stuff just got better on its own. (except for the phone thing). Things got better because activists demanded it. And pissed people off. And made waves.
If you were a teen and you wanted to talk to another teen, you had to call their home and usually talk to their parents. Some folks my age will probably say this built character or social skills or something. It did not. It was awful. Really happy kids today don't have to go through that.
A lot of movies from the 80's, 90's, and early 2000s haven't aged well. Because the attitudes they have toward women, toward people of color, toward queer people, are no longer acceptable in mainstream society. They were then. It wasn't even edgelords trying to be daring--there was just a much higher ambient level of bigotry, homophobia, and misogyny in the culture.
Something else that's considerably less important but still good: EVERYONE used to smoke. Like, everyone. And they used to smoke everywhere. Planes, restaurants. I stopped going to see live music in my 20s because going to a club meant breathing in smoke for hours and coming home reeking of the stuff.
If you were a teen and you wanted to talk to another teen, you had to call their home and usually talk to their parents. Some folks my age will probably say this built character or social skills or something. It did not. It was awful. Really happy kids today don't have to go through that.
Everybody used to just throw "fag" and "faggot" around as generic insults. It's hard to explain to folks now how being gay was a shameful secret in the 80s. But maybe this will help. Paul Lynde, Charles Nelson Reilly, Liberace: not one of these guys was out.
Something else that's considerably less important but still good: EVERYONE used to smoke. Like, everyone. And they used to smoke everywhere. Planes, restaurants. I stopped going to see live music in my 20s because going to a club meant breathing in smoke for hours and coming home reeking of the stuff.
In my high school there were 200 students and probably 25 or 30 faculty members. In the 4 years I was there in the 80's, there were zero out queer people. This was not unusual.
Everybody used to just throw "fag" and "faggot" around as generic insults. It's hard to explain to folks now how being gay was a shameful secret in the 80s. But maybe this will help. Paul Lynde, Charles Nelson Reilly, Liberace: not one of these guys was out.
A lot of stuff has gotten worse, but a lot of stuff has gotten measurably better in many respects during my lifetime. So here's a thread as I think of them. First: it's a hard time to be queer in the USA, but it used to be nearly impossible for a queer person to be themselves.
In my high school there were 200 students and probably 25 or 30 faculty members. In the 4 years I was there in the 80's, there were zero out queer people. This was not unusual.
@2d86597c If the competence of Senators doesn't matter, why do we vote? Shouldn't we vote for a chief of staff who will appoint a Senator to do their bidding?
Yeah, I'm sorry, but politics is really a "what have you done for me lately" game. Great, Feinstein did some good things 30 years ago. She also held on too long and harmed the country in the process.
Just putting this out there: I'm looking for someone to do some cover #art for a book I'm publishing. Looking for something fun and comic-book-y. Kind of a Lumberjanes vibe. Sound like you or an #artist you know? Let me know! (Yes, I pay money, not "exposure")
Another reason why Halloween is the best holiday: people come to your house in fun costumes and make you smile and then, almost immediately, they leave
I'm mulling a longer piece about this, but I've really been thinking a lot about how "procrastination" is a hugely important part of my creative process. How my brain is doing the work even when I'm not sitting down and banging out words (or lesson plans)
@6a2035f3 On behalf of dads, I am happy to proclaim that this joke has earned you the degree of Honorarius Pater and all the privileges appertaining thereto. Welcome!
Yo, I was in Whole Foods and there's a new device at the checkout that's all like, "Pay with your palm with Amazon One!" and I'm pretty sure folks two towns away heard the "oh HELL no!"
Saw an article about crypto bros that was all, "ha ha, those idiots thought it would just keep getting more valuable forever!" and while that is indeed dumb, it's also the entire premise of investing in the stock market
Though I'm a horror fan, body horror has never been my thing. But today I had a tooth pulled and an implant drilled into my skull, and I can now say I like body horror even less.
Of course Bono is kind of a ridiculous egomaniac, but you gotta give him credit for appearing on the Mary J. Blige cover of "One" where she OWNS the song.
I need to let this go, but it just bugs the shit out of me. This tiny town funds a library. The mostly-rural state works to get digital lends to all residents. And here's ol' Brewster pretending like none of it exists.
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