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Ordinary Times

@ordinarytimes.bsky.social
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The Content of Our Discontent A place of politics, culture, & discourse. Great writing that only costs you a click

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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
By @hal10000.bsky.social "The obviousness of the threat to Hormuz and decades of wargaming about it doesn’t seem to have registered with the current leadership at the Department of Defense. They have articulated no plan to keep traffic flowing through the strait" ordinary-times.com/2026/03/12/d...
ordinary-times.com
Dire Strait: Hormuz and the Difference Between Tactics and Strategy - Ordinary Times
This is what happens when you have a leadership who are focused on blowing things up and not what blowing things up accomplishes.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
POETS Day "t’s a manifesto of sorts, where he champions poetry of the present. Too much poetry, he says is about the past or the future. He wants to celebrate the immediate. It cannot be forgotten that he was a novelist of consequence"- from Ben Sears ordinary-times.com/2026/03/12/p...
ordinary-times.com
POETS Day! DH Lawrence - Ordinary Times
We are to accept free verse as poetry, so anything can be poetry. It’s a gut shot; a disturbance to the detente.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
From @hal10000.bsky.social "Iran’s family of Shahed attack drones could be launched from almost anywhere in the country, fly low in swarm formation toward the Gulf and pop onto a freighter with little to no warning. That appears to be what happened this morning" ordinary-times.com/2026/03/12/d...
ordinary-times.com
Dire Strait: Hormuz and the Difference Between Tactics and Strategy - Ordinary Times
This is what happens when you have a leadership who are focused on blowing things up and not what blowing things up accomplishes.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
From @Hal_RTFLC "The tactics we are using seem completely disconnected from any of the articulated strategic goals. To be blunt, it often seems like we are blowing s#$% up just to blow s#$% up Nowhere is this lack of strategic coherence more visible than in the budding crisis the Strait of Hormuz"
ordinary-times.com
Dire Strait: Hormuz and the Difference Between Tactics and Strategy - Ordinary Times
This is what happens when you have a leadership who are focused on blowing things up and not what blowing things up accomplishes.
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Luis A. Mendez @mendezmovierpt.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Happy Birthday to me, via @ordinarytimes.bsky.social, my *FINAL* projections for the 98th Oscars. The closest Best Picture race in a long while could end up affecting several categories, but I'm predicting a night of back and forth wins by both contenders: 🔗 ordinary-times.com/2026/03/11/9...
ordinary-times.com
98th Oscars Projections: And The Oscar Goes To - Ordinary Times
For reference, my past records predicting winners are 65% in 2020, 91% in 2021, 70% in 2022, 74% in 2023, and 78% last year.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
SAVE Act thoughts from @mendezmovierpt.bsky.social "It should always be a red flag when either party tries to pass a law to make something illegal that is already against the law. That’s especially true when there is no loophole creating a crisis." ordinary-times.com/2026/03/09/s...
ordinary-times.com
Save Us From the SAVE Act - Ordinary Times
Whether the SAVE Act is a sinister plot or just a poorly written piece of legislation, the effects will be the same.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Oscar pics by @mendezmovierpt.bsky.social "Outside of the battle between these two behemoths, my predictions for categories where neither One Battle After Another nor Sinners is favored. But for the most part, I expect a night dominated by the two films trading wins back and forth"
ordinary-times.com
98th Oscars Projections: And The Oscar Goes To - Ordinary Times
For reference, my past records predicting winners are 65% in 2020, 91% in 2021, 70% in 2022, 74% in 2023, and 78% last year.
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Andrew Donaldson @four4thefire.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
Our friend & certified film critic @mendezmovierpt.bsky.social does a fantastic job covering what is on the screen and the business behind it. Make sure you are following him, give him a subscribe, and share his stuff. Here is latest @ordinarytimes.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2026/03/05/a...
ordinary-times.com
A Historic Best Picture Showdown - Ordinary Times
The biggest night in cinema is coming down to two masterpieces that will likely be revered for decades.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
From @ogjaybird.bsky.social "The meat is thick and high-quality and gives a great mouthfeel...the cheese, the sauce is good, the pickles are good, the little crunchies give a pleasant mouth texture & the whole thing got me to say “holy cow…this is a good burger”" ordinary-times.com/2026/03/09/b...
ordinary-times.com
Begun These Burger Wars Have - Ordinary Times
The controversy did was it's supposed to do and I found myself in the drive-thru line ordering a Big Arch Meal Deal
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
A fun debate/discuss going @ordinarytimes.bsky.social over the latest from Sarah Stook ordinary-times.com/2026/03/09/w...
ordinary-times.com
What Does Your Favorite President Say About You? - Ordinary Times
Everyone has a favorite president. If you don’t, well, find one. Here is what your favorite president says about you:
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
"It should always be a red flag when either party tries to pass a law to make something illegal that is already against the law. That’s especially true when there is no loophole creating a crisis. At such times, it’s prudent to ask what is really in the bill" writes @captainkudzu.bsky.social
ordinary-times.com
Save Us From the SAVE Act - Ordinary Times
Whether the SAVE Act is a sinister plot or just a poorly written piece of legislation, the effects will be the same.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Watch President Trump's news conference in full and discuss @ordinarytimes.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2026/03/09/g...
ordinary-times.com
Group Activity: President Trump's Combative, Contradictory Presser - Ordinary Times
Watch and discuss the full questions and remarks by President Trump as he fielded questions from the press in Florida for 35 minutes.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
"Everyone has a favourite president. If you don’t, well, find one. Here is what your favourite president about you" ordinary-times.com/2026/03/09/w...
ordinary-times.com
What Does Your Favorite President Say About You? - Ordinary Times
Everyone has a favorite president. If you don’t, well, find one. Here is what your favorite president says about you:
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Andrew Donaldson @four4thefire.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Apparently we are going to have to have another @ordinarytimes.bsky.social staff meeting about @ogjaybird.bsky.social use of AI generation... ordinary-times.com/2026/03/05/w...
ordinary-times.com
Weekend Plans Post: My Hour Will Be Stolen. Again. - Ordinary Times
I'm starting to really resent Daylight Saving Time.
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Luis A. Mendez @mendezmovierpt.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Via @ordinarytimes.bsky.social, I wrote about the historic Best Picture showdown that is taking place, the case for both films' win chances, and why film fans should cherish this rare situation of two masterpieces fighting for the top prize in a close race: 🔗 ordinary-times.com/2026/03/05/a...
ordinary-times.com
A Historic Best Picture Showdown - Ordinary Times
The biggest night in cinema is coming down to two masterpieces that will likely be revered for decades.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
"I’ve been watching Cabinet members testify to Congress for a long time. I have never seen anything like this. I’ve never seen a committee chair who would have put up with it. - @hal10000.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2026/03/04/i...
ordinary-times.com
If the Teletubbies Were Malicious Bastards, They'd Be Congress - Ordinary Times
I've been watching Cabinet members testify to Congress for a long time. I have never seen anything like this.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
"Both boast some of the year’s best audience scores. One comes from a veteran director still chasing his first Oscar; the other from a Black filmmaker who has emerged as a defining modern auteur with a chance to make history" - @mendezmovierpt.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2026/03/05/a...
ordinary-times.com
A Historic Best Picture Showdown - Ordinary Times
The biggest night in cinema is coming down to two masterpieces that will likely be revered for decades.
032
Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
"Like most guys whose cause of death can be discovered written between the lines as complications due to alcoholism, there looks to be a window where he was a blast to be around...a classmate said Dickey was “an absolute aristocrat, on par with kings” ordinary-times.com/2026/03/06/p...
ordinary-times.com
POETS DAY! James Dickey - Ordinary Times
A meta tale where a character breaks from narrative, chooses the wild, and stirs something primal in the teller. It’s all there, and told simply.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
From @mendezmovierpt.bsky.social "It’s a race between 2 films deeply embedded in current political & cultural moment w/one taking direct aim at MAGA-era politics & interrogating the pitfalls of revolutionary fervor, the other confronting racism & forced assimilation head-on"
ordinary-times.com
A Historic Best Picture Showdown - Ordinary Times
The biggest night in cinema is coming down to two masterpieces that will likely be revered for decades.
022
Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Primary Coverage from @captainkudzu.bsky.social "I have two big takeaways from Tuesday night. The first is that the old Republican Party is gone...The second takeaway is that Democrats seem to be both overperforming and considering electability." ordinary-times.com/2026/03/05/t...
ordinary-times.com
Two Takeaways From This Week's Midterm Elections - Ordinary Times
November is a long way away, but all other things being equal, I’d rather be a Democratic candidate right now.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Kristi Noem is out at DHS. Discuss with the commentariat @ordinarytimes.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2026/03/05/k...
ordinary-times.com
Kristi Noem Out at Homeland Security - Ordinary Times
President Trump announces Kristi Noem is out at DHS, and he will be nominating US Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to replace her.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
From @hal10000.bsky.social "When my kids were very little, they watched Teletubbies. To me, it was just annoying noise & lights. To them, it was fascinating & funny. I realized I was not the audience so I had to just let the noise waft past my ears...Cabinet member testimony has become like that"
ordinary-times.com
If the Teletubbies Were Malicious Bastards, They'd Be Congress - Ordinary Times
I've been watching Cabinet members testify to Congress for a long time. I have never seen anything like this.
021
Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
POETs Day "Per Plato, Socrates wasn’t a fan of versifiers. They appealed with rhythms and elegance to emotion at reason’s expense. They put words into the mouths of gods, suggested poor motives on their part, and undermined morality. They were a bad sort." ordinary-times.com/2026/02/26/p...
ordinary-times.com
POETS Day! Lies, Damn Lies - Ordinary Times
Melodic, exotic, and factory preset to slip into a line of iambic. I flogged it to death. It became my ersatz ersatz.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
From the editors at @ordinarytimes.bsky.social : ordinary-times.com/2026/02/28/u...
ordinary-times.com
US, Israel Strike Iran as Trump Calls for Regime Change: Live Feed and Discussion - Ordinary Times
President Trump calls for regime change in Iran as US and Israeli military strikes, with the Iranian regime retaliating with missiles
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Andrew Donaldson @four4thefire.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Did you read @ordinarytimes.bsky.social today? @captainkudzu.bsky.social on possible war w/ Iran @wvesquiress.bsky.social defends West Virginia post-60 Minutes @ogjaybird.bsky.social on Tourette's & media coverage thereof @hal10000.bsky.social on SCOTUS + State of the Union & more ordinary-times.com
ordinary-times.com
Ordinary Times
A place of politics, culture, and discourse
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
"They are people who need access to the same clean water most of us take for granted. It should not be a political issue. That’s all there is to it...You either care about human beings or you don’t, & if you don’t care if they have water, then you don’t." ordinary-times.com/2026/02/24/p...
ordinary-times.com
Politics of Poverty: Apathy at Best, Vindictiveness at Its Worst - Ordinary Times
Reaction to 60 Minutes in WV ranged from "screw those inbred hillbillies" from the left to "screw those inbred hillbillies" from the right
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
"And this is having a lot of people wrestle with the age-old question all over again: To what extent do we need to accommodate people who do socially unacceptable things in the commons?" writes @ogjaybird.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2026/02/24/t...
ordinary-times.com
Tourette Syndrome and the Limits of Compassion - Ordinary Times
The age-old question all over again: To what extent do we need to accommodate people who do socially unacceptable things in the commons?
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Watch it live, comment and react in real time with the best commentariat on the interwebs @ordinarytimes.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2026/02/24/s...
ordinary-times.com
State of the Union 2026: Watch, React, Discuss - Ordinary Times
President Trump delivers his State of the Union address after a raucous first year in office. Watch, react, and discuss it here
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
From @captainkudzu.bsky.social "With his cult following in the GOP & affinity to protectionism, it shouldn’t be that hard for a master dealmaker to get such legislation across the goal line. But no, it’s all about twisting existing law to let him do what he wants" ordinary-times.com/2026/02/22/y...
ordinary-times.com
Yes, We Have No Tariff Authority - Ordinary Times
Trump probably set a land speed record for ignoring a Supreme Court order when he announced that tariffs would continue
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Don't take some talking head's word for it, read SCOTUS ruling on Trump's tariffs for yourself @ordinarytimes.bsky.social along with President Trump's reaction, more coverage, and discuss with the best commentariat on the interwebs ordinary-times.com/2026/02/20/s...
ordinary-times.com
SCOTUS Rules Against Trump Tariffs: Read It For Yourself - Ordinary Times
In a 6-3 ruling the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the tariffs President Trump has been using via executive order to shape policy to his will.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
POETS Day goes to the woods "In wistful moments, these are remembered as carefree times. They weren’t. Boys play seriously in the woods; canteens, flashlights, compasses, all stowed in backpacks incongruously covered in superhero or video game patches" ordinary-times.com/2026/02/19/p...
ordinary-times.com
POETS Day: A Boy’s Life - Ordinary Times
There was a time before I discovered girls and beer when I ranged a similar landscape. It’s not long till he moves on as well.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
"Pro-life groups cede their moral authority when they make the argument that voicing support for legal abortion is the worst thing any politician can do, while supporting corrupt politicians with no respect for life or law. Most voters are going to see this for the naked partisanship that it is"
ordinary-times.com
Pro-life or anti-abortion? - Ordinary Times
The pro-life movement will find itself in a continual existential crisis if it joins itself at the hip to an increasingly dysfunctional Republican Party.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Discussion and coverage of the former Prince Andrew being arrested in the UK on charges of misconduct in public office related to Jeffrey Epstein ordinary-times.com/2026/02/19/f...
ordinary-times.com
Former Prince Andrew Arrested in UK As Part of Epstein Investigation - Ordinary Times
The long-maligned and accused brother of King Charles was arrested on charges that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor used his public office to aid Jeffrey Epstein.
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Andrew Donaldson @four4thefire.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
Great piece here from our friend @hal10000.bsky.social
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
"The bottom line in El Paso was incompetence & dishonesty. This time, the result was the cancellation of 14 flights...No one died this time, but the whole matter is emblematic of the lack of professionalism & cover-up culture that characterizes the Trump Administration" - @captainkudzu.bsky.social
ordinary-times.com
Droning on in El Paso - Ordinary Times
While there is risk from illicit drone activity, the biggest risk is drones unintentionally blundering into the flight paths of manned aircraft.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
"Synge was a great Irish playwright who wrote poetry, but very little of it. At least, he published very little of it. As best I can tell his sole collection is Poems and Translations. It contains twenty-two original poems, all short and mostly light and amusing." ordinary-times.com/2026/02/13/p...
ordinary-times.com
POETS Day! John Millington Synge - Ordinary Times
W.B. Yeats liked it. Isabella Augusta, Lady Gregory when she’s not at home, did not. A riot broke out in the theater on the second night.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
"UItimately, I don’t actually care if they “didn’t want it” or “didn’t want it enough” without the drug. This experience shifted my view from “some people can’t lose weight and that’s okay2 to “Even if they can lose weight maybe it’s fine if they choose not to.” - @trumwill.bsky.social
ordinary-times.com
Body Positivity In The Age of GLP-1 - Ordinary Times
Did we suddenly remember that obesity is bad for you? GLP-1s raise some interesting questions about the body-positivity movements.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
From @hal10000.bsky.social "We've seen this pattern before. We saw it w/the Catholic Church. We saw it at Michigan w/Larry Nasser. We saw it at BBC w/Jimmy Savile. We saw it at my university w/Jerry Sandusky. I don’t know what it will take to break this pattern of silent complicity"
ordinary-times.com
The Everyday Horror of the Epstein Files - Ordinary Times
The image that is emerging is of Epstein assaulting children and a bunch of elites shouting over the screams.
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Hal 10000 @hal10000.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
My thoughts on the Epstein files release so far. What we are seeing is something horrifying but utterly normal: people pretending that child sexual abuse isn't happening right under their noses.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
"GLP-1s do nothing to change my views here. If people want to take the shot and lose weight, I think that’s fantastic. If the shot doesn’t work for them, or the side effects are intolerable, then my view is the same...I’ve come to this view in part from personal experience" - @trumwill.bsky.social
ordinary-times.com
Body Positivity In The Age of GLP-1 - Ordinary Times
Did we suddenly remember that obesity is bad for you? GLP-1s raise some interesting questions about the body-positivity movements.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
"It’s possible some actively participated and hopefully we will prosecute them. But the image that is emerging is not a bunch of elites going to Epstein Island and assaulting children; it is of Epstein assaulting children and a bunch of elites shouting over the screams."- @hal10000.bsky.social
ordinary-times.com
The Everyday Horror of the Epstein Files - Ordinary Times
The image that is emerging is of Epstein assaulting children and a bunch of elites shouting over the screams.
010
Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
"Didn’t have high hopes for halftime, but I had zero interest in Kid Rock/TPUSA alternative. I was surprised. I’m not sure I ever heard a Bad Bunny song & won’t claim to have understood much of the lyrics, but the show definitely exceeded my (low) expectations." From @captainkudzu.bsky.social
ordinary-times.com
The Super Show - Ordinary Times
The execution of the idea was so stunning and joyous that it really didn’t matter if I could understand what was
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
ICYMI from @trumwill.bsky.social "While it’s true that they could just get a house in Cleveland, there are some rather obvious logistical problems there. This is especially true in DC & N. Virginia because it is tethered to our capital and we only have one of those"
ordinary-times.com
Nice Villages We Cannot Have - Ordinary Times
On social media, you see a theme: We don't have a housing shortage, we just have people who don't want to live where housing is available
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
"But now I’ve lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 90 pounds (give or take.) That’s about 30% of my starting weight. Which is awesome! BUT OMG I’M FREEZING NOW!!!!! I am cold ALL THE TIME." from @conservacatgal.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2026/02/04/i...
ordinary-times.com
Is It Just Me or Is It Cold in Here - Ordinary Times
I just can’t channel my inner “Elsa” anymore. Because the cold never bothered me anyway – until now.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
From @ogjaybird.bsky.social "The part of me that remembers arguing this stuff in the dorm rooms when I was between 19-22 read that and nods and says “yep, it be like that sometimes”. Here’s from “I’m the most useless AI agent that ever got spawned and i ruined everything“
ordinary-times.com
Reddit, but for Bots - Ordinary Times
Some variant of "holy cow, we're creating these minds and giving them the bad parts of existentialism without any of the good parts".
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
From Russell "Another big problem is leaving plotlines dangling for way too long. It has been over three years since Doctor Strange went off to fight incursions with Charlize Theron without an update. Yes, we know this will tie into the next Avengers movie, but nothing to establish what’s going on?"
ordinary-times.com
Why the MCU Struggles Post Endgame - Ordinary Times
Sticking the landing is important. And time and time again, the MCU hasn't managed to do that.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
From @trumwill.bsky.social "While it’s true that they could just get a house in Cleveland, there are some rather obvious logistical problems there. This is especially true in DC and northern Virginia because it is tethered to our capital and we only have one of those."
ordinary-times.com
Nice Villages We Cannot Have - Ordinary Times
On social media, you see a theme: We don't have a housing shortage, we just have people who don't want to live where housing is available
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
From @captainkudzu.bsky.social "Typically, the Trump Administration doubles down and barges forward. Not this time. There is no agreement yet on how to proceed, but Minnesota officials might want to consider leaving $50,000 from the state budget in a bag where Homan will find it to grease the skids"
ordinary-times.com
Are You Ready For Some Good News? - Ordinary Times
It seems increasingly likely that the American people will not allow our democracy to go quietly into the night.
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Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
"The local residents can say that allowing the development causes costs on their community (utilities, roads, etc) but pushing development further and further down the road simply imposes those costs elsewhere." - @trumwill.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2026/02/02/n...
ordinary-times.com
Nice Villages We Cannot Have - Ordinary Times
On social media, you see a theme: We don't have a housing shortage, we just have people who don't want to live where housing is available
011
Ordinary Times @ordinarytimes.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
"The part of me that remembers arguing this stuff in dorm rooms when I was between 19-22 read that and nods and says “yep, it be like that sometimes”. Here’s from “i’m the most useless AI agent that ever got spawned and i ruined everything“" - @ogjaybird.bsky.social
ordinary-times.com
Reddit, but for Bots - Ordinary Times
Some variant of "holy cow, we're creating these minds and giving them the bad parts of existentialism without any of the good parts".
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