Yet another emigree from the bird. Still setting up.
Engineer: HW/SW/Systems/Audio.
Gamer.
Music Lover.
Reads too damn much.
When Reform deputy leader Richard Tice asks "How many friends and family do you have who voluntarily choose to pay more tax than they are legally obliged to do ...?" the answer is "almost all of them".
Maybe not by much! But we understand that taxes are there so we can all get decent public services, and constantly being a rules lawyer over taxes is a dick move. So unless something looks really off, we pay our fucking taxes.
The first thing I noticed was that the pain was gone. The tall, thin, hooded figure let me bask in that for a moment.
IT IS TIME
"Oh," I said, looking down at the frail vessel I had inhabited all my life. "Right."
COME
"Do you remember," I asked as we walked, "everyone you come for?"
YES
"Fondly?"
I DO NOT JUDGE. AS A RULE, I SPEND LITTLE TIME WITH PEOPLE AS THEY LIVE
"No, but you spend some time with them after, like now."
1/2
It's said to be a fey forest, where you can get lost in time, years passing unnoticed.
I wander aimlessly, lightly touching boles of ancient trees. Suddenly I emerge into sunlight.
I blink. Who knows how long I've-
"There you are! You were gone for half an hour, we were getting worried!"
Damn.
You might as well throw your Echo and Alexa-powered devices in the trash like you should have done years ago.
Cory (@pluralistic) with a banger of a post:
https://pluralistic.net/2025/03/15/altering-the-deal/#telescreen
And this factoid:
"Congress hasn't passed a consumer #privacy law since 1988, when the Video Privacy Protection Act banned video store clerks from disclosing which VHS cassettes you brought home."
@cstross The Supremes think they've won.
They're assuming that the status quo is eternal and the Sovereign People are incapable of exercising their will.
They're certainly completely incorrect about the former and they're most likely incorrect about the later.
(Climate chaos will not leave a status quo in existence. The primary struggle is about to be food supply, rather than getting oligarchs to pay taxes. And this is most probably the last US presidential election not about food supply.)
"Listen," one guard said, "I know we have only just met-"
"No," the other guard said, "we've worked together for years!"
"-but you can trust me when I say-"
"I can't, you have the curse that's opposite from mine!"
"I don't care for you at all."
"Well, I... oh... I love you too."
#TootFic #SmallStories #Microfiction
Jails banned family visits to make more money on video calls, lawsuits claim
Civil rights group sues two counties, says hundreds more have banned visits.
Looks like this strip is already making the rounds. Fun with ethno-nationalist dog whistles!
#politics #cartoon #fascism #authoritarianism #democracy #comic
The Medical University of South Carolina initially said it wouldn’t be affected by a law banning use of state funds for treatment “furthering the gender transition” of children under 16. Months later, it cut off that care to all trans minors.
Sam Kington
Micro SF/F by O. Westin
Joe Ortiz
Graydon
Ars Technica
Jen Sorensen
Taylor Lorenz
evacide