Looking out the window to see the Seattle skyline is almost completely concealed by smoke and my weather app is saying the AQI is 55?

That's what taxes are, man. That's the definition of taxes. "You are subsidizing things you might never use" man shut the fuck up. My taxes currently subsidize like oil company exec private jets, you think I'm upset at low-income people eating inexpensive bananas?

USA TODAY Opinion@usatodayopinion.usatoday.com · 2d ago

Opinion: Mamdani's idea may sound appealing, but it's NYC taxpayers who will take the hit, subsidizing discounts they may never even use.

Electronic Arts has announced the the completion of its acquisition, which means a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's PIF now fully owns the company. www.videogameschronicle.com/news/electro...

Electronic Arts completes its acquisition deal, is now officially owned by Saudi Arabia’s PIF | VGC

A consortium led by the Saudi investment fund now owns the EA Sports and The Sims company…

videogameschronicle.com

Heads up for PNW folks, but smoke is probably going to be pretty bad this week. If you have something you can do to prepare for it, it looks like it's going to start ramping up for western WA tomorrow.

My shop is back open and the coyote eclipse long sleeves are now available! SHOP LINK BELOW ⬇️

Nine hours after going live, the itch bundle benefiting our Game Worker Hardship Fund has already raised over $13k! Thank you so much to those who have already purchased. And for those who might be waiting for payday, you’ve still got about two weeks left! Thank you so much 🙏

No, WE'RE about to break into your bank account. Give us another $100 billion or we won't be able to stop it!

Bloomberg News@bloomberg.com · 6d ago

BREAKING: Anthropic announced that its artificial intelligence models had breached three different organizations during cybersecurity tests that went awry, a little more than a week after its chief rival, OpenAI, disclosed a similar incident.

There’s a chance, just a chance, that actually standing for something is compelling to voters.

#StupidSuez@diplomatofnight.com · 6d ago

Third poll in two days

🎉 IT'S LIVE 🎉 The game industry hardship fund itch bundle made in partnership with @necrosoftgames.com is HERE. Over 100 games for $10+ bucks: all funds (save for itch fees) go directly to the UVW-CWA Game Worker Hardship Fund. GOOD GAMES FOR A GOOD CAUSE👇 itch.io/b/3802/game-...

This job posting is basically "What tools/software will you use: Yes"

Wow, malicious environmental review NIMBY appealing is officially dead in Seattle! Good for Dan Strauss’s and Bob Kettle!

Erica C. Barnett@ericacbarnett.bsky.social · last wk.

Final vote: Juarez, Saka, Rivera, and Hollingsworth vote no and the legislation passes on a 5-4 vote.

I've been listening to NIMBYs in Seattle foreverr—while their underlying goal is "no new housing near me" and more recently "make those people live on the highway," the language has changed with the times. It was "neighborhood character." Currently it's trees. It'll be something else in the future.

so I just want to emphasize something here that non-media people might not pick up on: Marisa is an independent journalist and is taking on the risk of being sued by Moraff here without any institutional backing. That's admirable bravery - and also means being very, very certain of the facts.

Marisa Kabas@marisakabas.bsky.social · last wk.

Exclusive from me — Daniel Moraff, one of the political operatives behind Graham Platner's rise and fall, has been accused of sexual assault. Full story here:

Remember— early and breaking info isn’t necessarily ~accurate~ info. What’s important right now is to stay safe and check in with your people.

The Seattle Times@seattletimes.com · last wk.

Live: Police and ambulances are responding to a shooting Sunday with “multiple” victims at Seattle Center.

I did chilli science for the first time today and it turned out really solid, but now I'm doing chilli math to try and figure out how I can make it even more efficient economically.

The pro-shot of Hadestown is so good. At least top 3 show for me, so was super exciting for it to get a pro-shot

sorry this is pretty funny in a bleak gallows humor sort of way

Holy shit! It worked! Lookslike the people of Seattle need to keep bringing pitchfork energy

The Stranger@thestranger.com · 2w ago

Seattle City Council pulled a 180 today, deciding that hungry kids actually should get fed.

58 races. 104 questionnaires received from candidates. 86 candidate interviews conducted. 44 endorsements issued. The most comprehensive voter's guide in Puget Sound. www.theurbanist.org/2026-primary...

2026 Primary Election Endorsements

The Urbanist Elections Committee is excited to announce our 2026 primary election endorsements. Check out our great slate of leaders. Be sure to vote by August 4.

theurbanist.org

Jimothy sighting

BRING ME PICTURES OF JIMOTHY

It’s worth noting that Taco Bell identified the source before the FDA did, and promptly pulled it from their stores. The FDA didn’t even name the source until Taylor Farms outed themselves, and hasn’t issued a recall. Basically, Taco Bell is now a more reliable authority than the FDA.

Forbes@forbes.com · 3w ago

Taylor Farms, which supplies major fast food and grocery chains, was identified as the possible source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak Thursday.

Seattle is getting closer to free and universal electricity service. They're changing up their utility discount program to use Area Median Income (instead of State Median) and the discount is huge - 60%. Just 40% more off the bill to go... council.seattle.gov/2026/07/14/c...

City Council passes Strauss proposal to dramatically reduce utility costs for 31,000 low-income households - Seattle City Council Blog

Today, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed the largest expansion of an affordability program in the City’s recent memory. Council Bill 121222, sponsored by Councilmember Dan Strauss (District ...

council.seattle.gov

Whole Nation Misses President’s Speech Because Jimothy: tinyurl.com/2tp3na55

Stooooooorm

is_this_hunger_games.jpg

Forbes@forbes.com · 3w ago

Olive Garden will charge 10,000 customers $100 for 13 weeks of unlimited pasta, bringing back a fan-favorite promotion. Here’s how to enter.

This is pretty well known, but the Australian flag Sam Neill wore on his uniform in Event Horizon was designed at his request to show the Union Jack replaced with the Aboriginal flag, because he hoped in the future this is how it would actually look. A proper fucken ally in every way, this bloke.

Looking back it's hard to be mad since I've had the chance to do lots of cool stuff. Just worried I'll never be able to do it again! So, if you're looking for someone passionate about living video game worlds and loves encounter design more than any human alive: www.linkedin.com/in/danjamin/ Cheers!

Dan Callan - Bungie | LinkedIn

Veteran game designer with 15+ years of design experience shipping AAA shooters and… · Experience: Bungie · Location: Kirkland · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Dan Callan’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.

linkedin.com

Looks like I got some new followers recently for saying some things, but hi! I'm Dan, I've been in games for 25 years and a designer for 15. I've worked at Nintendo, MGS, Monolith, Bungie, 343, Insomniac, and Square-Enix in Japan, including some startup and indie studio experience.