Iason.

I work with a lot of veterans and the thing that breaks my heart is how many of them really bought into the lie. They really think they sacrificed years of their lives, some of them went through hell, all for the people of their country. And when or if they realize that they were used, it can break them.

Many, not all obviously, but many of them are victims of this self-same system of oppression. Taking it out on them is exactly what the people who pull their strings want from us.

No war but class war.

Like 6 good ones and a bunch of the same tired comments about poop knives, broken arms, same, this.

Here, at least most of the answers are real human beings trying to contribute to a conversation.

When I tell people Lemmy is like the old internet, I’m going to use this specific comment chain to demonstrate it.

I once said to an employee, “Have a peaceful rest of your shift!” And he said, “You, too,” and I didn’t turn away fast enough and I watched his soul leave his body.

Ya’ll are kinder than I am. I say put him outside and let the problem solve itself.

They do really care about each other though.

I didn’t really mean it to imply that you get respect, so much as it’s more obvious that you’re a real, authentic person. People will give more weight to someone they know is a real person, versus a bot. Or a shill.

I actually suspected that this was part of all this.

Real humans with lots of karma, some of it perhaps built up from before they started fucking with karma? Who might say something other than what the paid sponsors want?

I think this is an intentional move to try and get rid of anyone with any authenticity who isn’t a bot or a shill.

It’s just my little conspiracy. People with accounts like my old one would be very undesirable (lots of karma, ancient account age, not a capitalist stooge.)

That’s the problem with racist bullshit. They scrape the racism off and peddle it everywhere until it’s widely accepted and not tied to it’s roots anymore.

Yes, definitely see a different doctor.

I’ll have to take your word for it. I struggle with podcasts.

I agree with literally every point you’ve made (especially the ‘had to be there’ notes, it’s so hard trying to explain that) but one.

Here comes a billion words on how I love Sun and Moon. Feel free to skip them, I’m just trying to add to the conversation.

Sun and Moon is on my list of faves because of the slow island vibes, the sun and moon motif… Oh. Let me take a moment and say, as a grass type trainer, I have gotten absolutely effed with starter choices. I love plants, I love flowers, and… It’s insane how often the grass-type starter is the weakest in design. So let me say when Rowlet hit the scene, I fell in love. This precious little floof who turns his head all the way around to look at me in battle, and then turns into a moody teenager when he becomes Datrix (if you’re petting him after battle, and you touch the feather in front of his face he gets so MAD!), finally turning into the extremely badass Decidueye? Grass/Ghost? Hell. Yes. After watching water and fire get bangers of starters for ages, only occasionally getting a starter that felt like it was “good enough” rarely, finally getting my owl was like a sword-in-the-stone moment.

I hear you on Z-Moves but I do really love the idea of doing a little Hawaiian-style dance with your Pokemon to power them up. It feels more like I’m contributing than pointing a rock at something. I actually enjoy that some of the dances look really stupid because you have to ask yourself, “Do I want to look cool right now, or do I want to look a little silly and absolutely destroy my enemies?” There’s also something excellent in facing a friend in battle, and watching them choose to do a dumb pose with mounting horror. “Hahaha, Chris is doing a dance and the background is pink and oh god no he’s chosen to destroy me.”

That was 21 years ago! And where others might expect someone to slow down, I think Jon Stewart’s spending all the time since then writing, interviewing, producing content, and fighting in Congress will suit him well. I think we’ll see a meaner, hungrier Stewart.

I really hope we get a chance to see it.

I shared this upthread but I think that you might enjoy knowing it also. Jon Stewart went, himself, onto Crossfire, Tucker Carlson’s show in 2004. And he just… destroyed him. Here’s a link to the wikipedia article of the incident.

I am so excited to tell you this.

When Tucker Carlson (right-wing shithead) was hosting a show called ‘Crossfire,’ and still wearing a stupid bow tie, he made the mistake of agreeing to have Jon Stewart on his show. Here’s a link to the wikipedia page. There is a whole page for this one incident.

Here is a line that might appeal: “Three months after the appearance, Crossfire was cancelled and Carlson was fired; commentators differ as to how impactful it actually was, but generally agree that Stewart was at least part of the reason.”

And one thing is for sure, Tucker Carlson may have kept his incredibly stupid “man just asking questions” expression… but he stopped wearing that stupid bow tie.

If I ever embrace my fate as a lonely housewife book author, I’m going to have a rough time, because the kind of people who would forever love me for producing my books and sharing them as free (with the option to donate) and the kind of people who buy lonely housewife books are two completely different circles and I wouldn’t be able to spend all the time necessary to ‘market’ myself online to get the books in the hands of people who want them, if I’m trying to spend that time writing.

Maybe what we need is an apparatus. A website where authors can share full-size books, users can vote on them, and if you like them enough you can give money to those writers.

I just don’t know how we’d get that, be able to allow any author to share their book, and still have quality control.

I haven’t looked at or held or otherwise directly perceived a kindle in many years now, but when I did it was insanely easy to just pop any old file into a converter and slip that onto the kindle and pirate and read as you like. Did they put a stop to that with some proprietary nonsense?

Disclaimer: I did this because it’s what’s easiest for me to read, and hopefully it’ll help someone else.

This Executive Order does the following:

• All federal agencies, including independent regulatory commissions, are now subject to direct White House control.
• Regulations cannot be issued without presidential approval.
• The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) can now withhold funding from independent agencies if they don’t align with White House priorities.
• All federal employees must follow the President’s and Attorney General’s interpretation of the law, eliminating legal independence.
• A White House Liaison is to be installed in every independent regulatory agency to enforce direct presidential control.

This is the biggest executive power grab in U.S. history.

• This formally ends the concept of an “independent” regulatory agency, dismantling one of the last barriers to absolute executive power.
• This order effectively erases the last major restraints on executive power.
• The federal government no longer operates with checks and balances.
• Regulations and laws are now dictated solely by the President.

If left unchecked, this is the moment the U.S. ceases to function as a democratic republic.

#The President Now Controls All Regulatory Agencies

The SEC, FTC, FCC, and FEC are no longer independent.

• The Stock Market is now subject to White House control, enabling insider trading, favoritism, and targeting of political opponents.
• Antitrust laws can be selectively enforced, allowing administration-friendly monopolies to expand unchecked.
• Political opponents in the tech sector, media, or finance can be targeted with regulatory action while allies are protected.

Elections are now influenced by direct White House oversight of the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

The FDA, EPA, and consumer protection agencies are fully politicized.

• Drug approvals, food safety regulations, and environmental policies can be rewritten for political or corporate interests.
• Climate change regulations can be erased overnight.
• Scientific research is now subject to White House approval before public release.

Implication: There is no longer any neutral enforcement of economic, environmental, or election laws. Everything is now dictated by political loyalty.

The White House Can Block Agency Budgets or Direct Funds Elsewhere

• The OMB can now adjust funding allocations for independent agencies.
• This gives the President the power to defund agencies without needing Congress.
• Regulatory agencies that challenge presidential policies will be quietly strangled of resources.
• Agencies loyal to the President will receive full funding—even illegally.

Implication: Congress no longer controls federal spending on regulatory enforcement. The executive branch can choke out opposition agencies and reward allies.

The President & Attorney General Have Final Say on All Legal Interpretations All federal employees must follow White House interpretations of the law.

• The Attorney General’s opinions override agency lawyers, inspectors general, and independent counsel.
• Agencies cannot adopt their own interpretations of legal statutes—everything must align with the President’s views.
• The President can rewrite federal legal interpretations overnight.

Implication: Legal consistency is gone. Agencies cannot push back against corrupt, illegal, or unconstitutional directives because the President’s interpretation is the only interpretation allowed.

Installing White House Liaisons in All Regulatory Agencies

A “White House Liaison” will be placed in every independent agency.

• This ensures constant presidential oversight of daily operations.
• These liaisons will report agency actions back to the White House and enforce political compliance.
• Agency directors will no longer have the ability to act without White House approval.

Implication: There is now a direct enforcement arm inside every regulatory body. Even agencies that resist presidential control will be internally monitored and controlled.

• Every regulatory body—from financial markets to environmental protections—is now politicized. Congress no longer controls federal funding—agencies must obey the White House or risk defunding.
• The President’s legal interpretations override all agency autonomy, eliminating independent enforcement of federal laws.
• The federal bureaucracy, once designed to be resistant to corruption, is now completely subject to presidential loyalty.

A someone else with ADHD, it absolutely wrecks the flow I get into trying to read it.

E: It’s really important though so I’m going to reply to myself in a bit after making an edit that would make it easier for me, myself, to read, in the hopes it’ll help someone else like me. (The process of editing it will make it something I can read, lol.)