Serial Banana Citizen

Acerbic actuary, three-handed economist, gnu atheist, Jeopardy! champion, chess nut

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

In a few years, it will be the first state to outlaw them.

[Isaac Rowlett @IsaacRowlett]

62 years ago, today: Wisconsin becomes the first state to require seat belts

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

But don’t make jokes about its arms because it will eat you.

[katie honan @katie_honan]

.@NYCMayor with the robocop, which cannot make the heart with the mayor because it has no arms

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@minilek Why should we assume that the cashier knows what a security guard would be allowed to do?

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@campbells_snoop @ActualNames1 These two tweets document the fulfillment of a biblical prophecy: “Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” (Matthew 13:12)

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

I’m more and more convinced that Rudy Giuliani, when he was Mayor, had more redeeming qualities than Eric Adams.

[katie honan @katie_honan]

.@NYCMayor tells the story of how he kept the photo of a fallen police officer in his wallet for decades but it turns out staff printed it out before a NYT photo shoot and even splashed coffee on it to make it look old
https://t.co/58s3w1cQnr

[Brandon Bradford @BrandonLBradfor]

@GStandingready @Seinneann @seerutkchawla I have an issue with your tweet because it's incorrect, in context and content. That has nothing to do with ideology, but the source. Also, that's not what an ad hominem attack is. I think you're an idiot, but I'm not telling you your argument is wrong *because you're an idiot.

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

The correct answer is, obviously, “If you can make an immortal Terminator snail, you can at least offer me $100 billion, and I’m not starting any negotiations for a lesser amount.”

[internet hall of fame @InternetH0F]

what’s your choice?

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@MNboyinCali @ArmandDoma I’m sorry, you have no idea what you’re talking about. I tried, but you’re either not listening or not comprehending.

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@MNboyinCali @ArmandDoma Consider an extreme example. Group A has 2 people age 30 and 2 people age 80. Group B has 4 people age 30. In each group, 2 people are employed. Would you say the two groups have similar employment outcomes?

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@MNboyinCali @ArmandDoma Black population is younger because of higher mortality. Thus equal aggregate employment to population ratios for 16+ imply there’s still some gap for any given age.

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@MNboyinCali @ArmandDoma It’s not prime age data. It’s 16+.

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@adad8m My Bayesian prior for the probability of it being rational is zero.

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@JamesSurowiecki Seems obvious they would be. Also seems correct - 1A protection isn’t content-dependent (Holocaust denial is protected speech). Also useful to have assholes declare their views so you can avoid hiring them. But consider more sympathetic cases too: https://t.co/WX5UXc4pBj

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@digby56 Should an atheist web designer be compelled to take a job for Assemblies of God? Should a web designer who specializes in work for synagogues be compelled to create a website for a mosque? Is this different? Religion is a protected category just like sexual orientation.

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@BruceBartlett I am an atheist. Suppose I ran an advertising business and a church asked me to make an ad for them inviting people to come and find Jesus, their Savior. I should have the right to refuse, even though it is obviously discrimination on the basis of religion (a protected category).

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@BruceBartlett The worst case consistent with the decision is a web designer or invitation card designer refusing to take a job for an interracial wedding. Which is gross, but why would anyone want to hire that person anyway? Seems better to know who they are.

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@Calmwatersavril @golikehellmachi That’s a legitimate argument about what’s the better strategy. I personally think different things work for different politicians. Biden can say progressive things while sending geezer vibes, and Obama can say conservative things while looking cool.

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

I hate the right-wingers on this SCOTUS as much as the next person, but some reactions on the left (and even center-left) to this week’s decisions remind me of conservative freakout/hyperbole about the court “banning prayer in schools” and such.

[Serial Banana Citizen @svenosaurus]

@golikehellmachi So how is MY’s “cool it down on trans rights” different from Obama’s “I don’t support same-sex marriage” campaigning? I think we can agree Obama’s position was (1) wrong on substance, (2) probably not sincere, and (3) probably good for liberal/LGBT causes in the long run.