Daniel Dvorkin @medigoth@qoto.org

A FOAF asks, "What's wrong with trimming the #federal #workforce anyway? How much has it grown since 2000?"

Well, here's the answer: it's been essentially flat for decades. Sorry if that doesn't fit the narrative you'd already decided on, buddy. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES9091000001

Alleged #leftists who use the phrase "#Democrat #Party" are about half a step from going full #MAGA ... and that may be a bit too generous on my part.

If you're one of them—that, way off over there, is the off to which you can fuck. No, farther than that. Keep going.

@kaffando @QasimRashid "Democrat party." Anyone who uses MAGAt terminology is either a MAGAt themselves, or a useful idiot.

Not reposting because I don't want to give it a boost. All I will say is ... HOW THE FUCK DO YOU THINK WE GOT HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Watching my fellow #veterans turn on their own to defend the bloated coward in the White House is really pathetic. It's not the worst aspect of this insane time, nor the most dangerous—although it may be pretty high on the list. But it's one of the most personally disgusting.

From a long-ago conversation: "... #fantasy stories that read like a retelling of someone's #DnD campaign inspired by Sword Of #Shannara fanfic."

It was funny at the time. Now we're living in the #dystopian sci-fi equivalent.

@fatsam Goddamn netsplits.

The original post reads, "Apparently there's a deepfake going around of Trump speaking several cogent sentences in a row. Not to be taken seriously, obviously."

@fatsam I'm filing it under "if it's not real, it should be."

From a friend: "How many commercial #jets crashed into US #Army #helicopters while #Biden was #president? Zero."

I'm totally hearing this sung to the tune of This Corrosion.

"Most people seem to be unaware that there is such a thing as the #Gothic #language."

"I’m still reasonably fluent, but I have admit it's a very limited language. Mostly good for expressing gloom and ennui."

A friend's brilliant nickname for White House Press Secretary Karoline #Leavitt: "Klaus Barbie".

@RnDanger [applause]

Puts a whole new spin on "I identify as an attack helicopter," doesn't it?

The very stable genius asks: "Why didn't the #helicopter go up or down, or turn?"

Helicopters must be … [gasp] … WOKE!

Whenever I see anyone mention #American #Primeval, I get some cognitive dissonance, because I'm a big fan of the #British series #Primeval, which is about something *completely* different. It's even weirder because there was a short-lived sequel series titled Primeval: New World (set in #Canada, not the #US, but still). Not that a crossover wouldn't be fun ...

I laughed, but this is a serious concern. Even if he drops dead tomorrow (entirely possible given his age and lousy health habits) the Party might decide he's too useful to let go.

I'm starting to get snarly about the "#distraction" thing with people I have no desire to alienate. So I'll just copy and paste my comments on a friend's post, and leave it at that:

"I do not believe the #culture #war is meant as a distraction. It is meant to accomplish its own whole set of goals, which exist alongside the #economic ones. The right wants to enrich itself by starving poor people *and* run out or kill off everyone who doesn't check all their #demographic boxes. These goals are not mutually exclusive, and neither is a distraction from the other.

"I'm a straight white male native-born middle-aged middle-class veteran: the economic axe will probably fall on my neck before the demographic one does. But I am very well aware that for a lot of other people, including some members of my family and close friends, it's the other way around. So there's really no way to make the d-word more palatable IMO."

Reminder: #HorribleThing is not a distraction from #OtherHorribleThing is not a distraction from #YetAnotherHorribleThing. All the horrible things are horrible, and none of them are planned solely as distractions. They're all things horrible people want.