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James Austin

@jamestaustin.com.bsky.social

Staff Writer for Wirecutter, covering hobbies and games. Let's talk about dice and meeples!

357 Followers  |  801 Following  |  313 Posts  |  Joined: 22.06.2023  |  2.1084

Latest posts by jamestaustin.com on Bluesky

Aaron Judge is certainly a valid choice for MVP, this is not a robbery, he put up a historic season and is firmly establishing himself as one of the best hitters of all time

but come on, a catcher just hit 60 home runs

14.11.2025 01:18 β€” πŸ‘ 244    πŸ” 16    πŸ’¬ 14    πŸ“Œ 1
Video thumbnail

Reinstatement now!

12.11.2025 23:14 β€” πŸ‘ 185    πŸ” 44    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
Don't Buy Starbucks! At any location, today and beyond, while workers are on ULP strike!

Don't Buy Starbucks! At any location, today and beyond, while workers are on ULP strike!

As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.

Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX

13.11.2025 11:33 β€” πŸ‘ 13900    πŸ” 9008    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 853

BREAKING: Starbucks workers have launched a massive, nationwide strike.

Baristas in 40 cities have walked off the job on the busiest day of Starbucks' year.

Upwards of 12,000 @sbworkersunited.org members could ultimately go on strike as the union escalates.

13.11.2025 13:31 β€” πŸ‘ 6591    πŸ” 2292    πŸ’¬ 56    πŸ“Œ 226
Graphic celebrating our strike ending. It reads: 
November 12, 2025
The Strike is Over!
with a raised fist and the Kickstarter United logo in each corner

Graphic celebrating our strike ending. It reads: November 12, 2025 The Strike is Over! with a raised fist and the Kickstarter United logo in each corner

After 7 months of bargaining, and 42 days of striking Kickstarter United has voted to end the strike

After 7 months of bargaining, and 42 days of striking Kickstarter United has voted to end the strike

Graphic with multiple picket signs that reads "[up arrow] Minimum Salary", "4 day Work Week", and a big cancel sign over "AI Replacing Jobs" and so much more. Go to kickstarterunited.org to see it all!

Graphic with multiple picket signs that reads "[up arrow] Minimum Salary", "4 day Work Week", and a big cancel sign over "AI Replacing Jobs" and so much more. Go to kickstarterunited.org to see it all!

WE WON! After 42 days of striking we have a tentative agreement in hand that protects our existing 4 day work week, establishes a minimum salary, and adds protections against AI replacing jobs at our workplace!

12.11.2025 22:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1647    πŸ” 561    πŸ’¬ 20    πŸ“Œ 44

<unclenches>
So...
Pluribus is pretty good huh?

13.11.2025 04:42 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
΀ΟΞ₯ STORY

The purpose of a toy is to bring happiness to a child

΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 2

Toys must accept that their child will someday outgrow them

΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 3

Toys can find new purpose with a new child

΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 4

Toys can abandon children, create their own purpose, and pursue relationships with other toys

΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 5

Toys can learn how to create new toys without the involvement of a child

΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 6

Toys construct a secret, self sustaining society parallel to human civilization

΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 7

The great human/toy wars begin

THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER

Cars 1-3

΀ΟΞ₯ STORY The purpose of a toy is to bring happiness to a child ΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 2 Toys must accept that their child will someday outgrow them ΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 3 Toys can find new purpose with a new child ΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 4 Toys can abandon children, create their own purpose, and pursue relationships with other toys ΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 5 Toys can learn how to create new toys without the involvement of a child ΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 6 Toys construct a secret, self sustaining society parallel to human civilization ΀ΟΞ₯ STORY 7 The great human/toy wars begin THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER Cars 1-3

Fortunately, I already figured out the plots of the next several Toy Story films

12.11.2025 01:27 β€” πŸ‘ 3548    πŸ” 900    πŸ’¬ 35    πŸ“Œ 21

Is Slack down for anyone else?

10.11.2025 18:16 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 0
A yellow bridge in front of a city background with three banners reading "POST-GAZETTE STRIKERS WILL WIN".

A yellow bridge in front of a city background with three banners reading "POST-GAZETTE STRIKERS WILL WIN".

BREAKING: We won!

Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.

pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...

10.11.2025 17:48 β€” πŸ‘ 2847    πŸ” 724    πŸ’¬ 40    πŸ“Œ 104
Stand with CondΓ© Nast Union. Sign our petition.

Stand with CondΓ© Nast Union. Sign our petition.

Stand with CondΓ© Nast Union 
οΏΌ
We’re calling on you to sign our petition telling management to reinstate the Fired Four, reverse the suspensions, and end the union busting. Use the link in bio to add your name.

Stand with CondΓ© Nast Union οΏΌ We’re calling on you to sign our petition telling management to reinstate the Fired Four, reverse the suspensions, and end the union busting. Use the link in bio to add your name.

Stand with CondΓ© Nast Union 🚨 We’re calling on you to sign our petition telling management to reinstate the Fired Four, reverse the suspensions, and end the union busting.

Sign here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...

09.11.2025 15:00 β€” πŸ‘ 335    πŸ” 158    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 5

β€œgambling is the worst, most game integrity destroying crime you can commit against the game of baseball

now please read this sports betting advertisement, they’re our biggest sponsor”

truly one of the most predictable disasters of all time

09.11.2025 18:46 β€” πŸ‘ 499    πŸ” 96    πŸ’¬ 15    πŸ“Œ 2
Ryan Moulton
@moultano
Oil is the most Lovecraftian thing that actually exists. You're telling me that there's a black ichor under the earth, made from the ancient dead, whose burning can realize all the dreams of man but only at the price of slowly returning the earth to its primordial state?

Ryan Moulton @moultano Oil is the most Lovecraftian thing that actually exists. You're telling me that there's a black ichor under the earth, made from the ancient dead, whose burning can realize all the dreams of man but only at the price of slowly returning the earth to its primordial state?

08.11.2025 17:44 β€” πŸ‘ 11456    πŸ” 2927    πŸ’¬ 58    πŸ“Œ 124
Preview
Senior Writer, Culture WIRED is where a better future is imagined. For three decades, we have been the indispensable guide to a world in constant transformation. We cover humanity’s biggest challenges, from climate change t...

Super excited that we're hiring a senior writer to join @wired.com's culture team! If you're obsessed with internet culture and like our vibe, apply! condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CondeC...

07.11.2025 22:48 β€” πŸ‘ 172    πŸ” 106    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 4

I'm one of the four fired employees. I was a writer & producer at Bon AppΓ©tit for nearly five years, during which I helped organize our union and sat on our bargaining committee.

I am, to my knowledge, the only trans woman in our union and the only trans woman on editorial who doesn't work at Them

06.11.2025 18:32 β€” πŸ‘ 4936    πŸ” 1530    πŸ’¬ 37    πŸ“Œ 24
WIRED is doing some of the most impactful political reporting of this administration. That’s made possible by our subscribers, who signal to our employer, Conde Nast, that this work is worth protecting. Conde has never told us what to report and has stood behind our work, but it is also true that how a company treats its workers is political. The Conde Union has been working tirelessly to bring that same spirit of accountability to all of Conde Nast and must continue to do so. β€”WIRED’s Conde Union Members

WIRED is doing some of the most impactful political reporting of this administration. That’s made possible by our subscribers, who signal to our employer, Conde Nast, that this work is worth protecting. Conde has never told us what to report and has stood behind our work, but it is also true that how a company treats its workers is political. The Conde Union has been working tirelessly to bring that same spirit of accountability to all of Conde Nast and must continue to do so. β€”WIRED’s Conde Union Members

A statement from Wired's Conde Union Members

06.11.2025 20:19 β€” πŸ‘ 596    πŸ” 132    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 3

As my general two cents: don't cancel your WIRED subscriptions.

Best culture, best newsroom of anywhere I've worked. I love the living shit out of these folks, and they don't deserve to be negatively impacted by a decision that was made by the parent company, not them. And it's only $2 a month.

06.11.2025 18:39 β€” πŸ‘ 951    πŸ” 170    πŸ’¬ 23    πŸ“Œ 15

I was one of the four people who got canned.

In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere β€” the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com

06.11.2025 18:02 β€” πŸ‘ 2603    πŸ” 883    πŸ’¬ 90    πŸ“Œ 23

Good things are possible and we don’t have to settle.

05.11.2025 03:35 β€” πŸ‘ 47107    πŸ” 8193    πŸ’¬ 253    πŸ“Œ 221
Preview
a black and white cartoon of a man holding a sign that says ' sickos ' . ALT: a black and white cartoon of a man holding a sign that says ' sickos ' .
05.11.2025 02:20 β€” πŸ‘ 6349    πŸ” 792    πŸ’¬ 37    πŸ“Œ 11

Defense is now questioning Lairmore on cross-examination. They show a video still of the sandwich and wrapper on the ground, post-throw.

"Do you recognize that sandwich?" the attorney asks.

Lairmore won't confirm.

"I did not go back to collect it," he says.

04.11.2025 15:58 β€” πŸ‘ 5223    πŸ” 580    πŸ’¬ 178    πŸ“Œ 382

it is kinda crazy ngl like if you have a sibling, cousin, nephew, idk if you literally know any man between the ages of 16-25 you should probably be keeping tabs on them and giving support because at this point statistically speaking hes either an outlier or he's losing tons of sports betting weekly

04.11.2025 05:18 β€” πŸ‘ 230    πŸ” 31    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 3

It’s not ever about the numbersβ€”you can bring insane audience engagement, views, eyeballs to your verticals, shape the conversation in wonderful ways, win awards and on and on

And they still will nuke your job and your entire desk in the name of capital consolidation and kissing the fucking ring

03.11.2025 20:45 β€” πŸ‘ 1468    πŸ” 343    πŸ’¬ 9    πŸ“Œ 18

if there was a rich person with the will, you could build the most incredible news organization that has ever existed just from the wreckage of this year alone.

03.11.2025 20:11 β€” πŸ‘ 7181    πŸ” 1686    πŸ’¬ 140    πŸ“Œ 109
Post image

WE HAVE A DEAL: We are happy to share that all of our hard work - and with the support of the people of New York - we have a tentative agreement on our first contract with Alden Global Capital

03.11.2025 14:46 β€” πŸ‘ 173    πŸ” 37    πŸ’¬ 10    πŸ“Œ 20

Incredibly proud of the bravery and hard work that made this happen - y'all are amazing πŸ™ŒβœŠ

03.11.2025 15:51 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Can't tell you how much I didn't miss the "It get's dark out at like 4 PM" thing.

02.11.2025 23:49 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I’m really starting to suspect that most of the tech bros haven’t actually read Tolkien, as they certainly don’t understand it.

The gentle hobbits save the β€œhard men” of Gondor, largely through compassion and selflessness. Not the other way around. The Christian parable is barely hidden!

29.10.2025 09:31 β€” πŸ‘ 4583    πŸ” 897    πŸ’¬ 196    πŸ“Œ 84
And in that pause between pitch and contact - longer than logic, shorter than hope - we remembered why baseball existed long before we judged a sport's value by viral moments and betting apps. It is the romance of failure. The mortal beauty of trying and missing seven times out of 10 and still being considered great. It is the only sport where patience is a weapon, and panic the surest death. You cannot simply run out the clock in baseball; you must face it, pitch by terrifying pitch, until it finally releases you.

And in that pause between pitch and contact - longer than logic, shorter than hope - we remembered why baseball existed long before we judged a sport's value by viral moments and betting apps. It is the romance of failure. The mortal beauty of trying and missing seven times out of 10 and still being considered great. It is the only sport where patience is a weapon, and panic the surest death. You cannot simply run out the clock in baseball; you must face it, pitch by terrifying pitch, until it finally releases you.

Did not expect one of the best paragraphs I’d read about baseball would come from an Irish newspaper

www.irishexaminer.com/sport-column...

02.11.2025 14:22 β€” πŸ‘ 7202    πŸ” 2300    πŸ’¬ 109    πŸ“Œ 251
Preview
Yes, the government should feed us What's the point of living in a society if not to care for one another?

The far-right weirdos who say we have no obligation to care for one another are in the minority.

Most people don’t want our government to suddenly stop feeding the hungry.

Most people want to live in a society where we care for, and feed, each other.

www.jphilll.com/p/yes-the-go...

02.11.2025 14:21 β€” πŸ‘ 487    πŸ” 134    πŸ’¬ 9    πŸ“Œ 4

@jamestaustin.com is following 19 prominent accounts