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Among the first rules of tax policy should be "If the French tried it and backed off because it failed and/or backfired spectacularly, abandon the whole goddamn concept."

In which I have no interest for unfortunate-association reasons. But, y'know, if flying the wartime flags of our former - and sometimes current - enemies is to be considered _chic_, which empirically it *is*, my trollish heart can do better than that.

tl;dr anyone know where I can get hold of a reproduction Imperial Japanese Navy battle ensign?

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So, I've been looking to replace my flag recently, thanks to the inevitable tattering effects of Kansas wind, and after ordering a duplicate, went looking for other flags that reflect my values. Thought I might mix it up a little.

Searching for interesting flags on the Internet is always an experience, given the number of dire sins against vexillology and good taste out there, but I'm quite irritated by the crowding out of other interesting possibilities by the old Confederate battle flag.

I see people whine “But why must I always be better than them?”

Because the controller of the simulation is running an evolutionary algorithm, bro. Only the single best one of us will get out of the universe alive.

Among the joys of designing financial systems for SF universes of varying tech/dev level is the moment when you realize that the ultratech galactic transaction clearing system requires an error handler for “payment delayed due to sick bullock”.

Concerning today's multi-state 911 outage, I should just like to clarify that it wasn't me. It was almost certainly some Russian dude, JUST LIKE LAST TIME.

@avatar

"That one is alarmed at the prospect of devices which manipulate the heck out of the substrate of reality is merely a sign that one is still sane."

- Irreality Vault chief researcher

@Dandelion

If the answer is "to substitute for me in meetings I'd rather not attend", I'm buying.

"Today I have restored our access to the dark web! Muahaha!"

"What do you use the dark web for, anyway?"

"Use?"

"..."

"Because people want us not to have it?"

"That's it?"

"You need more?"

All I want to know about the Borderlands movie is who they've cast to play Face McShooty. Who is, as you know, the heart of the entire setting.

Is it just me, or does "The Path of Totality" sound like an excellent name for a cult, martial art, or possibly band?

@dashdsrdash @zarpaulus

Eh, they're using a crocked business model. You could fix that in two changes.

As for the state government's unwillingness to cooperate with the private sector, fixing *that* is likely to be somewhat harder.

@dashdsrdash

Libraries, yes, definitely.

(I have yet to see anyone declare firefighting anticapitalist, although it would be entertaining to see the local Molotov cocktail enthusiasts square that with their other beliefs. Preserving private property from the flames is definitely a bourgeois value.)

I mean, intellectually, it is easy to remember that Good Things do not become Bad Things just because they're also considered Good by people with a, hm, statistically high likelihood of stanning mass-murdering fuckheads and/or their ideas.

But the feels, man, the feels are icky.

Request to world:

Would you kindly stop describing Obvious Good Things as Anticapitalist Works, lest I end up stopping supporting them despite their being Obvious Good Things.

(tl;dr My rationality is imperfect! Please help me not succumb to polit tribalism!)

Today's pitch: a zany romantic comedy set in the setting. I call it "The Love Nug".

Incidentally, while I usually boost my writing here when I post it, if you just want that without my other weird ramblings and sarcasm, you can follow it alone at @avatar .

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