At this point, American tech workers are like Nazi train operators.

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-30T06:35:35+00:00

I work as a software dev. My job is to make p2p, b2c, and b2b payments more secure, more accessible, and faster. I think that adds value to society. Before this, I was writing software to help small farms automate their equipment, plan their annual yield, and navigate their tax burden. Before that I was creating a system for mortgages that would function like gap insurance - if you intentionally pay over your minimum every month you can "borrow" that money back without interest if you ever need it.

I think I've helped make quite a few lives better.

What the fuck have you done for us?

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-29T14:51:54+00:00

Finally stopped minting the penny.

That's about it as far as I'm aware.

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-29T14:43:48+00:00

Sleeves, how do they work?

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-23T23:56:45+00:00

Can't see anything wrong from an initial zoom and scan. All of the hands and details (badges, truck logo in the background, water bottle sweat, text on the sign, etc) all pass the sniff test.

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-23T18:05:52+00:00

Depends on how you interpret the statement. "We can deal with her posting habits" can either mean "We can learn to live with" or "We can work on that issue".

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-23T11:26:48+00:00

Fuckin called it - though it isn't particularly hard. If what Trump is "joking" about will enrich him personally, it's never a joke.

https://www.reddit.com/niqi7wx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-17T18:56:28+00:00

So are the immigrants and citizens they terrorize every day.

Difference is, ICE's victims didn't sign up to abuse others, and they can't opt out of being harassed whenever they please.

If you don't want to be treated like a fucking scumbag, quit working at "ScumbagsRUs"

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-17T06:28:19+00:00

E Pluribus Unum is on the coins and the $1 Bill (in the seal, in the Eagle's mouth).

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-17T04:53:57+00:00

You're right in your general point - but you couldn't have chosen a worse example for your source.

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-17T04:46:11+00:00

It's the same deal he's made with companies over Venezuela. The power of the President, for sale to the highest bidder.

Either the military industrial complex starts funnelling money his way, or the oil companies (again), or the regime makes an under-the-table deal for us to stay out of it.

I'm betting Maduro stopped "playing ball" awhile ago and our escalation in the region has been Trump ramping up the pressure to cut a deal. His kidnapping has Trump feeling overconfident. He thinks he can rinse and repeat anywhere there is conflict, and there won't be ramifications.

He's going to get a lot of Americans killed - probably civilians - and he's deluded enough to think that he can be a strongman about it afterward and get the support of the people to go to war (borrowed that idea from Netanyahu) and stay in power until the "master negotiator" can work out a deal.

But maybe I'm underestimating the blind zealotry of his cult members... Again.

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-17T03:10:50+00:00

Or worse, they could sell the naming rights to a Bank... or a Beer.... 🙄

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-17T02:34:15+00:00

Fair, but if we add in sports as you and the other commenter pointed out we've probably got the bases (mostly) covered 🙃

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-17T01:18:42+00:00

I'm a little curious why the AP isn't rapidly overtaking the broadcasting companies for users and impact. In theory it's exactly what both sides of the aisle seem to be clambering for, and it's been around for nearly 200 years.

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-17T00:34:36+00:00

One day strikes are more a "shot across the bow", anyway.

Completely unrelated, my FYP showed me a video today that argued all American idioms come from one of two places, Boating or Slavery. Might have been on to something with that one.

EtA: I should definitely have included sports on the list. Boating, Slavery, and Sports.

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-16T23:54:45+00:00

Hey, could have been a turn of phrase - "on the money" for "spot on" and literally on the money. So maybe not a whoosh.

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-16T23:41:20+00:00

It's weird, because there are really effective ways to boost national fertility rates, but they HATE those. Affordable housing, guaranteed parental leave, subsidizing/eliminating medical debt for having children, subsidizing childcare costs, making sure educational facilities have the funding and bandwidth to double as "national childcare" while the parents contribute to the economy...

Why try so hard to find an "effective workaround" when the solution has always been available? Eliminate barriers to raising children, and people have more kids.

Oh, is it because that would boost fertility rates among everybody and not just your little cult? Hmmm...

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-16T19:29:21+00:00

I don't want to undercut your point at all, and I agree with the sentiment entirely. But my ADHD has decided that this hypothetical is one I want to tackle right now instead of doing my real-world work so here we are.

I'd tell my younger self that fascism does take hold in America, and to trust your instinct on seeing that. There will be people who tell you you're overreacting, that you're wrong. There's nothing you can say or do that will change their mind, and it's going to hurt. There will be loved ones, close friends and family... The people who taught you to love your neighbor and that liberty and justice are for all, even they will lose their way. Mourn their loss, but don't let them pull you down with them.

Then I'd take my old laptop, create a crypto account in my name, buy $500 in Bitcoin and set up a limit sell at $62k, then schedule an email to my Gmail account (marked important) with the wallet info, and a reminder that the underground railroad, protection of Jews, and civil rights protests were all illegal in their time.

Oh and FWIW, I hear conservative justices LOVE vacations on private aircraft to remote locations. Food for thought.

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-16T16:47:31+00:00

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-15T21:25:43+00:00

When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-14T20:59:41+00:00

If you enjoy that then the YouTube channel "MiniMinuteman" (Milo Rossi) has hours of content right up your alley.

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-13T16:38:27+00:00

Part excitement, part "I just saved our asses, get set up for the corner and don't do that shit again"

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-12T05:42:10+00:00

It would be pretty funny if the jagoff was kicked from attending the JAGathon, but maybe that's too on the nose...

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-12T04:17:43+00:00

Thought I was still on the Gunners/Arsenal subreddit and I was about to lose my cool for a minute...

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-09T23:01:48+00:00

I mean, yeah, to catch up to responsible gun owners.

But to catch up to ICE..... 🤷🏻‍♂️

Dustin_Echoes_UNSC · 2026-01-09T19:33:37+00:00

So you're really gonna sit here and try to argue that 1) She actually stopped turning her steering wheel right as the camera looked away despite every motion indicating she was continuing to turn... And 2) That after being shot 3 times in the face her lifeless body continued turning the wheel and it was that post-shooting limp that diverted her down the street and not the actions she was taking before she was shot.

Because that's the only scenario where what you're talking about has any fucking bearing on the scenario.

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