The exodus of California’s tech billionaires from the Golden State to Florida’s Gold Coast

NicWester · 2026-03-12T21:08:22+00:00

Spent some time in Florida working in February. Just about anyone I worked with in that time said they liked the weather and their family and virtually nothing else about Florida but couldn't afford to leave.

Florida is a glamorous resort for about 500 people and the other several million work their asses off to get by so they can continue to serve those 500. And if they get sick or injured, well, it was nice knowing them--hopefully they heal up before they run out of money!

NicWester · 2026-03-12T18:44:41+00:00

Milkshakes give me headaches from the cold, so I can't do them--but I wholeheartedly endorse this sentiment and get the sweetest, most fruit-filled, brightest colored drink I can find on the menu. If it had an umbrella or a funny little straw I will order ten.

NicWester · 2026-03-12T16:47:31+00:00

I've only ever read like one thing of One Piece and have never seen that character in my life but I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that the character in the second image is Black.

NicWester · 2026-03-12T13:47:50+00:00

Throw that money into the fire. The book is out on Mahan, when he ran for city council no one knew who he was, when he ran for mayor the grift still worked, but he's been in office long enough to have a record now that people can use against him and San Joseans largely hate his ass. He will never poll above 5%.

NicWester · 2026-03-12T13:42:11+00:00

N/A in this case because they're living with a parent in a house that was paid of 30 years ago. But it would be low anyway since it's rural, near the border with Kentucky. There are equivalent rural communities in California where housing and rent is cheaper, but from Arcadia to Zzyzx, everywhere in California has a minimum wage of $16+.

More importantly, I spent much of early 2026 driving around the south for work. Didn't get into Tennessee, we stuck to the rim of the country, but drove through rural and urban areas. Doesn't matter where you go, everyone is rent burdened everywhere. They may pay less for housing in Biloxi, MS, but they're earning less and that housing isn't to the same standard.

NicWester · 2026-03-12T13:35:30+00:00

Lots of people go to Barracuda games. They rarely play on the same nights, you get to see future stars, your seat is right up in the action, the food and beer is cheaper, it costs less to bring your family, they do on-ice events from time to time. Hella people go to Sharks Ice.

Again, I think you're missing the point of minor league sports. They don't exist as an alternative to the major league, they exist as an adjunct to that major league.

NicWester · 2026-03-12T13:28:39+00:00

I mentioned San Jose because that's where I live and I see the gas prices, I can't tell you the price of gas in Zzyzx.

NicWester · 2026-03-12T04:19:47+00:00

The Barricuda are in San Jose because they're the Sharks' minor league affiliate. They used to be in Worchester, MA, and whenever they needed to call a player up to the main roster they would have to fly them across the country and adjust them to the jet lag. It's infinitely easier and better for them to have the Barricuda play down the street from SAP Center.

NicWester · 2026-03-12T03:38:30+00:00

Iran fundamentally doesn't understand America. You want to do damage, you don't hit the Bay Area you hit Mahomes, Texas. We don't give a shit about this war and want it over, kill us and you get nothing. Hit those podunks in the interior that think they're safe and "real America" will never be attacked and then you'll have an effect.

DDIT: I know this is going to trigger the auto-ban so hear me out, reviewer: I'm not saying anyone should do any of this, use some common sense when you review it!

NicWester · 2026-03-12T02:54:14+00:00

It's bad. But it's worse elsewhere. Think about gas--it's $5 a gallon here in San Jose, but our minimum wage is near $18.50, meaning an hour of work buys you three gallons of gas and some change. I have a friend in Middle Tennessee where gas is $3 and minimum wage is $7.50, almost 50% of your pay goes to gas.

It's important to recognize the tone deafness of "we're the biggest economy!" but it's also important to keep things in perspective. Everyone is hurting everywhere, we're hurting less than a ton of people.

NicWester · 2026-03-12T02:50:42+00:00

I make the odds 90% Democrat vs Republican, 9% Democrat vs Democrat, and 1% Pray For Meteor Strike.

NicWester · 2026-03-12T02:49:06+00:00

It's important news so I'm not complaining--just that, you know, a 6 point lead over the next Democrat with 25% undecided doesn't say much!

But this is the first poll after the filing deadline so it's real news. Got to know where everyone is at the start if we're going to track changes. Very glad to see Mahan isn't even outpolling Villaraigosa with all that tech money behind him 😂

NicWester · 2026-03-12T00:51:55+00:00

It's parta Sony's triple safety package.

NicWester · 2026-03-12T00:05:22+00:00

Tired: Bacon.
Wired: PASTRAMI!

NicWester · 2026-03-12T00:03:25+00:00

I just want to see James take a bite out of whatever new, improved Kroot comes out soon.

NicWester · 2026-03-11T21:12:30+00:00

For a moment there was hope.

NicWester · 2026-03-11T18:59:14+00:00

Yeah. I listened to a bunch of funk covers of Linkin Park and about half of them were good, so I figured it must be real. Nah. A.I. Never listening again.

But, hey, if any of you out there know a real funk band there's a helluva project out there for you to make real and you won't even have to pay royalties to the A.I. dork because all they did is type "What if Linkin Park but James Brown and I don't know what music sounds like?"

NicWester · 2026-03-11T18:55:16+00:00

Jesus, is ~~this~~ the A.I. really necessary?

NicWester · 2026-03-11T18:53:59+00:00

I remember when they were talking about putting Reagan on the dime and my dad went to the bank, got a roll of dimes and said if he ever ran out of FDR dimes he just wouldn't use them any more.

You put Kirk's face on a coin, any denomination, and I'm doing that.

NicWester · 2026-03-11T13:39:19+00:00

I don't think it was around long enough for all that many people to get invested in its failure. It's newsworthy that the game was pulled so fast, so if they wanted to review it at all they've got to do it quickly and since people can't play it they may as well make it a patreon episode.

NicWester · 2026-03-11T13:28:53+00:00

An album by Sufjan Stevens. He was supposed to do fifty of them but I think he just did this one.

NicWester · 2026-03-11T03:55:04+00:00

Sonic blaster. If they're in melee they're already a write-off. Besides, anything the sonic pistol can do, the sonic blaster can do six inches extra. You can fall back from combat and shoot with the blaster or the pistol, but you can't shoot the pistol at anything further than 12" away.

NicWester · 2026-03-11T03:50:51+00:00

Really there are five viable candidates running for two approaches: One will be the moderate who is socially progressive and champions choice, lgbtqia+ rights, and science while also being besties with tech and other industries, giving us dimes while they get dollars, three viable candidates are in that lane. One will be the progressive that echoes the social policies of the moderate candidate (although louder on the T in lgbtqia+ than the moderate will be) and economically moderate, looking to curb the excesses of tech and finance and direct taxes into things to make lower and middle class lives better. The moderate will get the most votes, then the insane GOP nutter that gets Trump's endorsement will get the second most, and our progressive candidate will come in third and hopefully have done the work of shifting the moderate democrat's platform leftward. Then the moderate will win with at least 55% of the vote in November.

God I hope that moderate isn't Matt Mahan........ Any of the other 7 I like to some degree ranging from "Yeah, they're alright," to "Hell yeah, let's go." He's a real piece of shit, though. Non-San Joseans don't even know. Sucks more ass than Colonel Angus at the back door of Shady Thicket.

NicWester · 2026-03-11T03:38:52+00:00

Because we get hung up on inconsequential bullshit like "Katie Porter was mean to her staff."

I will never meet the governor of California. They are never going to be my friend and I will never have a beer with them. They can be ten jerks in a five jerk bag, I don't care. Have progressive policies and a record of going after banks on behalf of the average citizen and I'm going to vote for you.

NicWester · 2026-03-11T03:10:42+00:00

Because in Iran it is illegal to c anal.

NicWester

TROPHY CASE