I have so many new followers! Time to update this! Hi, all my new followers and people stumbling upon me. Let me tell you about me: - I am a Libertarian. Big L. NOT a Republican. NOT a Democrat. NOT a Liberal or Conservative. I guess you can technically call me a Classic Liberal. - Yes, I know my party - which is the Libertarian Party - has problems. I acknowledge them and try to help make them better. - I talk about politics and both agree and disagree with people you love and hate. If you came here to find an echo chamber, you're in the wrong place. - I am very respectful in disagreement and debate. I'm not the one who's going to devolve into calling you names in a debate. I also welcome respectful debate. - Likewise, I am going to mostly ignore you calling me names. However, mistaking my kindness for weakness is a mistake. - I firmly believe that disagreement (on almost every subject) is not hatred. I follow a lot of people with whom I disagree sharply. - I'm an IT guy by trade - leadership currently, but I came up through the sysadmin and netadmin ranks. - I also talk about music of all types and I like most things. There is one huge exception that someone who knows me will almost always mention in the replies. - I also talk about sports, and am a fan of the @NHLFlames (#CofRed), @RedSox (not too happy about the season being over), @OhioStAthletics and @BuffaloBills (#LetsGoBuffalo📷) - and there are other teams I like, so we'll probably talk about that. - I live and work in @GoPSUsports (#WeAre) Country and in fact drive by Beaver Stadium on the way to work some days. So, we'll probably talk about @penn_state too - The sport I talk about most is curling, for sure, and I am what you would call a former curler at this point. That's worth more than just a list entry. - I have been called The Minister of the Pants by @curling. I talk a little more about that on my @redargyle profile but I'm trying to talk about it more here. - I do have a LinkTree (in my bio) where I give you links to all my socials, and I have a lot of them, but I'm most active here. - I live in Central Pennsylvania, but I have lived in Rochester NY (#585represent), Enfield CT, and for shorter times in Buffalo NY, Calgary AB, Raleigh NC, Olean NY (@StBonaventure graduate), Vernon CT and Columbus OH - and I've been to lots of other places. - Yes, I'm American, and yes, I talk a LOT about Canada, too. Our two countries are both great and we have a lot to learn from each other. Our two countries are also not perfect, and we do well to accept that. - Yes, I criticize the government. Of just about every country :D. I am fighting for a world set free in our lifetime. - I talk a lot about places trying to break away and gain their sovereignty - Bougainville, Catalonia, New Caledonia, West Papua, among others - and places where there are significant independence movements - Alberta, Quebec, the Basque region, Scotland, Greenland. - I think the U.S. territories should be granted statehood or sovereignty. I definitely don't think American Samoans should be denied citizenship. - I am never going to be for the annexation of another country. - I am also never going to be in favor of the death penalty, for many reasons. - I'm #AlreadyAgainstTheNextWar. - Poutine is the greatest food on the planet and I will die on that hill. - You can disagree with any or all of that and we can still be friends. - I'm a real person. I promise. I am happy to connect and converse with you and with anyone - so feel free to tell your friends, connect, ask questions, whatever. Ask me anything. And yes, I took this picture in 2022.

This is part of my vocabulary now.

This is the real story. Taxpayers are footing the bill when presidents stump for candidates. It's not just Trump but he's doing a LOT of it.

So, let's put a bit of a finer point on this. Lula emphasized national tech sovereignty - stating Brazil needs to build its own AI and technology capabilities rather than relying entirely on foreign entities - and asserted that Brazil "does not accept being anybody's backyard." This was in the wake of claims of election interference levied on Meta - who, to be fair, did remedy some of those issues - but, really, this is less about censorship and more about Brazil "rolling their own", to borrow a term. Also, if someone wanted to bring back Orkut I think it would thrive today.

Oh, <<Vai chupar um canavial de rôla>> is my new favorite phrase in any language.

100% verdade

Because of course he did. His anaconda don’t. His anaconda don’t. His…. Oh, never mind. You know the rest. hindustantimes.com/world-new…

Wonderfalls was cancelled WAY too soon.

So, couple of corrections for you: BC Conservatives did win big - but it's not a MAGA-style party - in fact, it's made up of former Liberal Party members and tends to be centrist. Bolsonaro LOST. Lula was reelected. What else you got for me?

I wonder if US Republicans would cheer for Bolsonaro so loudly if they knew what his party was. It's the Partido Liberal - the Liberal Party. No, that does not mean the same thing that it does in the States. Does MAGA understand that nuance?

Looks like Brazil isn't ready for another Bolsonaro. Good. Not that Lula is much better, though.

All due respect, but we're a few years past Nicki Minaj being a phenom. She hasn't had a top 10 hit since 2023, which is an eternity in the music industry and far from phenom status. We're decades past Donald Trump being a phenom, so I can understand the confusion.

This is a REALLY close election.

SERIOUSLY brushing up on my Portuguese right now as I am watching Brazilian TV for election returns. What does "filho da puta" mean?

Polls are closed in Brazil and it is razor-close. reuters.com/live/brazil-elec…

Hey, by the way, I'm almost to 3000 followers. Boy, I would really love to get there. Thanks so much for sticking around for my ranting so far. GIF of Catherine Zeta-Jones for attention.