Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 5hstatic.klipy.comThe Simpsons: Nelson Muntz's Armpit FartALT: The Simpsons: Nelson Muntz's Armpit Fart 130
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 6hIt's also worth pointing out that Yarvin is funded and his worldview promoted by Thiel, whose approval is required for Vance to keep his station. 010
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 11hWhy does his face and body look like he's been on the space station for the last eight months? Puffy swollen thumb of a head and spindly little matchstick thighs. Very artificial look for Jeff. 7200
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 17hSpace corridor already exists. It's called Halo: Combat Evolved and it came out 25 years ago. 1120
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 06/10/2026It feels good for a physicist to win the prize for something they've never actually seen. 000
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Yes. This is what I find confusing! And I think it's largely because the work is new. "Pick one, it's an obvious improvement" remains true, but we've picked one at roughly the same time stronger work has started coming out on which is best. www.cmaj.ca/content/198/... 110
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 06/10/2026I've found this coverage really confusing because, previously, my understanding has been that either option is a vast improvement over changing the clocks, with standard time being theorized as marginally better. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 06/10/2026I had thought that this was Linda Perry, but should have known better because the nuns 100% would have been won over. 030
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 05/10/2026You should probably learn Hinton's first name before you pretend to know any damned thing about his ideas. 050
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Okay but this describes most bars. I once had a customer order a Pina Colada and then ask if the coconut was fresh. In Canada. In February. 000
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Brb, gonna use $1001.00 to personally set The Boston Globe's editorial agenda for the next six months. 010
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Also: Buffy's whole deal is desperately wanting to get on with regular life. She frequently ignores danger, and is often aware of the specific dangers she's ignoring, specifically to have fun with her friends. Like half the time she's meant to be patrolling she's hanging out with a boy. 1161
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Among the many funny things about the big Yud is that claiming to identify with Buffy while indiscriminately lashing out at anyone who dares put a toe in his way is an extremely Faith thing to do. 1130
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Anecdotally, some friends once ran into Colm Meaney at a bar and he is exactly as good at darts as you'd imagine (phenomenal). 110
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Folks would drop thousands of dollars on a computer and use it maybe once a week. 110
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 04/10/2026This is what Miles O'Brien calls "The Dream". 210
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Like, this is the simplest math. With 47 MLAs, if 2 MLAs have problem with a policy, it's going nowhere. A 4% disagreement means failure. With 52 MLAs, we can have 5 of them dislike a policy and it's still getting through. Now a 10% disagreement is required to kill policy. 001
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 03/10/2026A bigger majority means that a couple holdouts can't kill policy on sight, yes. Do you agree or disagree that more wiggle room in votes means riskier legislation can be passed? 101
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Which quantifiable metrics are you recording and testing to determine that AI has "helped you" in comparison to the other options? As far as the research shows, AI is very good at convincing its users that it is helpful, while posting below replacement numbers when actually put to the test. 040
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 03/10/2026What does AI do, besides somehow inexplicably make SWEs even more insufferable? 010
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Yeah. Almost as if there's kind of a stochasticity in the process which differentiates it from conventional understanding of parrots. 000
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026A centre-left party fielding centre-left candidates and installing a centre-left government for nine years on the strength of those candidates is actually pretty good recruitment. It seems, with this announcement, the NDP is tacking further left. Isn't that good news? 000
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Until now, of course. If it's as good an idea as you seem to be making out, I'm sure they can count on your support. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Is it condescending to point out the price of milk was not an issue in 2017 or 2020? You said they had three elections to do this. Why would anyone propose this in 2017??? If you feel condescended to, spend more time thinking about what you are saying before you say it. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026No. But it is much harder for the province to afford a housing first policy when the vast majority of the homeless population live in the third most expensive market on the continent. Plus, Finland's success stalled. Still worth emulating. Much trickier to do here. 000
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026I don't think the price of milk was a problem for anyone in 2017 or 2020. It sounds like you really like this policy. You should strongly consider voting for the only party who is currently campaigning for it. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026You have no way of knowing that they didn't float this internally, or to the Greens. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Foundational disagreement between two or three party members will happen on any policy. In a slim majority, these matter. If literally everyone isn't on board, the idea doesn't fly. Price ceilings are very unconventional. Not a surprise a narrow majority stuck to calmer waters. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Yes. They didn't campaign on it. That's why it would be an extremely hard sell to MLAs. It's an unconventional policy with zero voter mandate. MLAs are a lot more willing to go to bat for policies the public has had input on. See: carbon tax removal post federal election. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Not really. Living in a global economy means the economy is global. Not fucking much a provincial government can do about a war in Iran, for example. I agree that public bargaining, something actually in their control, can be fairly criticized. Finland is a federal government. 110
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Patiently awaiting your thoughts on their biggest successes. 000
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Yes. The opioid crisis is an extremely difficult problem, with no clear answers or solutions, that probably requires top to bottom restructuring of society to solve while the bridge replacement would be done and we'd have $4B extra for the drug crises if the NDP hadn't kiboshed existing work. 000
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026If voters approve they will. But the policy was not election tested and, strictly speaking, price ceilings have many historical failures linked to socialism/communism. My estimate is that they are more popular with voters than MLAs today. If NDP gets mandate, MLAs will follow suit. 010
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Good thing the NDP is proposing to do exactly this thing by putting forward an unconventional policy! MLAs put a lot more stock in policy that voters have acted on. If you like price controls and want to see more of them, you should consider voting NDP. 000
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Yeah. Plenty to criticize. Also plenty to praise. That's politics baby! Why do you suppose I'm so obstinately arguing about these price controls, when I clearly have no problem discussing the party with nuance and a critical eye? 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026There is an enormous difference between politically safe (campaigning) and politically safe (governing). Populist ideas like price caps go a lot farther with voters than with MLAs. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026More likely: two or more NDP MLAs walk, BC Cons see an opportunity to dissolve government, put forward a confidence vote, and the Greens jump on it because they think they can increase seat count or even be a power broker in a minority. Think before you speak. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026It really seems like you don't understand it though, based on how you seemed to think doing something unpopular with a razor thin majority was fine, so long as it wasn't a confidence vote. If any three MLAs walk, the BC Cons could plausibly win a confidence vote. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Not an excuse. Everyone is having an affordability crisis. Everywhere. Prices really aren't their jurisdiction. The fact that he's reaching for price controls on a handful of regulated goods shows how little the province can actually do in a global economy. 30 cents off milk won't move the needle. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Going over City of Vancouver's head to raise VPD budget. Cancelling Massey Tunnel Replacement. What would you say thier biggest policy successes have been? Blanket rezoning? Primary care physician expansion? ICBC reform? 200
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026I agree that better than other governments is a low bar. They're still the best I, or very likely you've, ever had. Credit and critique, when and where it's due. Very silly to lay affordability crisis at their feet, for example. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026This isn't 4D chess. It's the absolute most straightforward and standard politicking. Narrow majorities and minorities stick to safe and anodyne policy. Consumer pricing caps are neither safe nor anodyne. 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026The house can introduce a vote of confidence at any time, in response to any measure. I think what folks are not understanding here is how large a departure from conventional politics of the last 50 years consumer pricing caps are. 200
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026I'm not making excuses for them. I am explaining simple political realities that folks seem not to understand? Pushing extremely unconventional policy, that was not campaigned on, with a razor thin margin is not how good governance is done! Losing confidence is always bad. Always! 100
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026They've passed some of the best policy I've seen in my lifetime. Good policy deserves good credit. 200
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026BC NDPs really stuck their neck out to get municipal zoning done and it's phenomenal policy. Necks can only stick out so far before they get loped off, especially with very slim margins in parliament. 310
Frank Black @frankblackthings.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Okay but losing confidence is actually very bad governance and a great way to have MLAs defect from your party. No one gets dragged because now BCCons run adverts about communist policy, former MLAs say the same for, and so do Greens to clean up close ridings. Politics is complex and hard. 100
