some people love quoting "the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must." That was Athens saying that at the height of its empire. Few of those people seem to remember what happened to Athens the very next year.

This was described in what is now known as 'The Stockdale Paradox", after James Stockdale, from his 8 years tortured as a POW in Vietnam. The final 2 paragraphs here have kept me going for a decade now.

Proud to say that I stopped posting on Twitter shortly after Elon bought it, and deleted my account completely as soon as Trump came to power.

Never mistake our kindness for weakness

From a *2014* Customs and Border Protection report on use of deadly force: www.npr.org/sections/the...

From 30 years of being an adult leftist: there is no amount of polite respectability that will keep centrists from saying you’re being rude to them by existing and no amount of overt Nazi shit from the right that will make centrists agree to even moderate concessions to the left.

To cap out this year, I'm happy to announce that Tallow is now a full fursuit, crafted by Beast Fantasia! 🧵: @beastfantasia.bsky.social 📷: @useralthepony.bsky.social #Fursuit #FursuitFriday #Avian #Furry #Bird #FurryArt

computer, enhance

One of the things I love the most about my cat is how he sees me pulling up in front of the house at the end of the day, and runs to greet me at the door.

"It happened so quickly" Fuck off, if he had time to draw his weapon and shoot he had time to step out of the way.

Shout-out to Public Enemy and Ice-T. My parents were appalled when they found the albums I'd borrowed from a friend in the early 90s, but as a white kid growing up in St. John's, Newfoundland; one of the whitest places on earth; they educated me on systemic racism more than any college lecture.

I'm gonna try making bean curd this weekend I think

Mantises are easily the sassiest of insects

Give em a poke her work is great!!

Timeline cleanse. Watch yourself; You are being judged from on high.

surrounding them after they just killed somebody and shouting “you can’t kill us all, nazis” is legitimate “ready to run through a wall” inspirational

The Trump regime's desire for authoritarian dominance is bottomless, but its capacity is not. Tying up the regime's limited resources means less capacity for malfeasance elsewhere. Even if the murderous ICE agent beats a prosecution, occupying the agency and its lawyers' time would be a positive.

tired: toxic microplastics wired: charismatic megaplastics

🌾 Eldarath 🌾 A hoodie for @eldarath.bsky.social, to match their partner! I love making couples' hoodies 💙💙💙 bsky.app/profile/apox...

in these moments, in my view, it is a political and spiritual DUTY for my outrage and anger to be as fresh as if I'd never heard how they shot Fred Hampton in his bed. As fresh as if I didn't know Bobby Hutton was surrendering when they shot him. 1/2

There are people who don't know, who didn't know. Moments like these are when they learn, and a window opens for people who want to turn their hunger for justice into action, for our numbers to increase. Stay mad and don't get jaded, in my opinion, get the newly passionate on board. 2/2

"Everyone is 12" strikes again

I don't know why more people (myself included) didn't make the link between the increasing "Everyone is beautiful, nobody is horny" Hollywood movies over the last 10+ years and the most basic characteristics of fascist aesthetics. It's clear as fucking day.

Okay. Time to really buckle down and work on losing at least 50lbs before my top surgery consult

Fuck off

annual repost of Trashed Bathrooms

@firr.bsky.social I'm sorry I missed you (Took longer than I thought; I'm too much of a perfectionist, I think) but I promise you it is glorious. Thanks for the inspiration :)

The Jan 6 riot was successful. Maybe this will put to bed the constant admonition that "riots don't work."

White House reveals why they want to seize Greenland

This is how enjambment can work in a poem. Bridge 77 on the Macclesfield Canal allows a horse to cross the canal without having to untie it from the canal boat.

I wish you could softblock on this site

I guess that's not terrible for a Canadian.

Donald Trump governs the way a 6-year-old thinks the presidency works. Everyone else in charge is clear evidence of the "Everyone is 12" phenomenon, but he's gotta be barely half that

Cory Doctorow is great. @eff.org and their work is critical. For my European friends, this sort of work is important and I'd encourage you to check out the video. youtu.be/39jsstmmUUs

An ace friend once described themselves to me as "asexual not because I'm sex-repulsed or sex-disinterested, asexual because the kind of sex I want to have isn't physically possible yet" and that's lived rent-free in my brain ever since

The Wyoming Supreme Court just ruled to protect abortion rights! They struck down the state's two abortion bans (yes, two). I'm so thrilled for the people of Wyoming, but also for all of us—because the decision could actually help abortion rights everywhere. jessica.substack.com/p/breaking-w...

I mean, she's more colorful than a Rainbow Dash figurine but time will tell if she can handle the same abuse.

Hey @themountaingoats.bsky.social I have a serious question from a fan. Dr. Darnielle, what 3 songs of yours would you prescribe to help soothe my soul in the world of January 2025?

When governments can win power with 30% to 40% of the vote, long term planning suffers. Big promises get torn up after every election. Proportional representation rewards policies that can survive change because they are backed by a real majority.

Computer, Enhance

"Bette David Eyes" but it's "Sweetwater Mouth" IYKYK.

Either 'The Greatest Show On Earth' by Richard Dawkins or 'Altered Carbon' by Richard Morgan. Actually, what the fuck is it with British authors named Richard?

Danielle Smith should be tried for treason, given the current world events.

Reminder that the US has accused Canada of being a major source of fentanyl, the 'Crime' that got Venezuela attacked and annexed in all but name. The US has threatened Canada with annexation. Canada is facing a grave existential threat.

I'm at a point where if I find out anyone I know jokingly or otherwise is "ok" with the USA taking over Canada then I'm cutting them out with no hesitation. Yes Canada has its problems, but I'd rather our problems than America making us a vassel with no voting rights.

Huh. 18 years of owning smartphones and I finally cracked my screen. Thankfully it's only the gorilla glass protector but I guess I have to go to the shop and get a new one put on ASAP.

Don't let this stop you from getting treatment though! Even for a 'minor' exposure, the outcome is the same without treatment: death. Get the treatment, then appeal the bastards when they charge you.

Good lord one of my colleagues told me she doesn't want to go to a meeting in Portland because she's afraid of being assaulted on the street. Right wing propaganda extends across the border.

I find myself singing this one a lot in karaoke lately. :/ Thanks John K. Sampson. You're an amazing songwriter.

Stop reading and watching dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction and media. Start engaging with hopeful material. Give yourself more Andor. More Kim Stanley Robinson. You owe it to yourself, and you owe it to the rest of humanity.