Author Archive for: Rayne

About Rayne

Blogger since 2002, political activist since 2003, geek since birth. Opinions informed by mixed-race, multi-ethnic, cis-female condition, further shaped by kind friends of all persuasions. Sci-tech frenemy, wannabe artist, decent cook, determined author, successful troublemaker. Mother of invention and two excessively smart-assed young adult kids. Attended School of Hard Knocks; Rather Unfortunate Smallish Private Business School in Midwest; Affordable Mid-State Community College w/evening classes. Self-employed at Tiny Consulting Business; previously at Large-ish Chemical Company with HQ in Midwest in multiple marginalizing corporate drone roles, and at Rather Big IT Service Provider as a project manager, preceded by a motley assortment of gigs before the gig economy was a thing. Blogging experience includes a personal blog at the original blogs.salon.com, managing editor for a state-based news site, and a stint at Firedoglake before landing here at emptywheel as technology’s less-virginal-but-still-accursed Cassandra.

Entries by Rayne

Vertical Demand Curve: When Your Money or Your Life Isn’t a Choice

February 11, 2019 /75 Comments/in Culture, Economics, Health Policy /by Rayne

We prohibit extortion — except when it’s health care. This is an open thread.

If It’s The Weekend, It Must Be Golf

February 9, 2019 /64 Comments/in Culture, Trump Administration /by Rayne

It’s Saturday. This must be our time to gaze with longing on the verdure only golf courses grow — and by verdure I don’t mean the fairways, tees, or greens.

Open Thread: Is that a Smile? [UPDATE]

February 8, 2019 /151 Comments/in Culture, Foreign Policy, Media /by Rayne

An open thread for matters unrelated to House Oversight Committee hearing and BDTS — including the attempt to blackmail Jeff Bezos.

Was Facebook Biased or Was It Manipulated?

February 6, 2019 /55 Comments/in 2016 Presidential Election, Culture, Media /by Rayne

Still puzzling: Why did contract editors complain about Facebook’s bias to a struggling Gawker outlet just after Trump became the presumptive nominee and before Gawker filed bankruptcy?

KonMari-ing the Confederacy’s Son

February 4, 2019 /48 Comments/in 2020 Presidential Election, Congress, Culture /by Rayne

What really sparks happiness and peace? What is it we should jettison if we are truly keeping that which is honest and trustworthy, responsible, respectful, caring, and fair?

A Good Walk Foiled

February 2, 2019 /60 Comments/in Culture, Trump Administration /by Rayne

Today’s round is just a good walk foiled. This is an open thread.

A Neoliberal Argument for Medicare for All

January 30, 2019 /145 Comments/in Culture, Economics, Health Policy /by Rayne

Why are industries which aren’t in health care providing health care programs at all? Why can’t we provide health care for everyone so that businesses can focus on their own businesses?

Let Them Eat (Starbucks’ Coffee) Cake

January 29, 2019 /197 Comments/in 2020 Presidential Election, Culture, Economics /by Rayne

A couple of older billionaire white dudes have been shooting off their mouths. One of them is partially clued in. The other one apparently lives on a different planet where the sky is a groovy coffee-colored plaid.

Unwinding a Multithreaded Beast

January 28, 2019 /100 Comments/in Russian hacks, Trump Administration /by Rayne

Perhaps these two threads — the IRA’s information warfare and Stone’s hacked email ratfucking — weren’t guided by a common entity. But they certainly sewed toward the same outcome.

Golf for Fun and Profit(eering)

January 26, 2019 /156 Comments/in Culture /by Rayne

On a cold and snowy afternoon a friend and I asked ourselves this simple question: if one owned a luxury private golf course club or resort, how could they launder money or make unreported income? This is an open thread.