Fish, Wings, & Tings A visit to Brixton back in September. Highly recommend.

Salisbury Cathedral September 2025 📷 canon at-1

@tennessippi.bsky.social's pictures from my hometown made me a little bit nostalgic, so I thought I'd post one from what will probably be my last trip to the US for several years. theatre savannah, tn, usa november 2024 📷 Ricoh GRIII

The newish Patterson Hood record is on repeat.

Corfu, Greece July 2025 📷 canon at-1

A lot of American political analysts call things “economic populism” that are just generally accepted policies in most of the developed world. Workers’ rights, family leave, universal healthcare, lower educational costs, etc. Globally, these are not radical or even populist policies. It’s normal.

When your leaders are a reality TV star and a car salesman, this is what you get.

If you take away the ability to make more money than any other country in the world, what is appealing about living in the U.S.?

I like the idea of anti-consumerism as a political strategy under the Trump/Musk administration, especially avoiding MAGA supporting businesses when possible.

Bike season is here.

Welp

Trump is the Ugly American. Behaving the stereotype with his selfishness, greed, lack of morality, entitlement, impatience, ignorance and aggression. Adorned in tacky clothing, artificial hair, and a spray tan while waiting for his next Big Mac.

The U.S. has always had two competing myths. - one based off selfishness, greed, and white supremacy - one considering “all men are created equal” and where diversity is our strength

The sooner the tariffs, the sooner we get mass political change in the US. Never forget that the main hobby of many Americans is some form of shopping.

Cory Booker building our moral imagination.

Brazil seems like a strange reflection of the U.S. Tons of natural resources, the mixture of the Indigenous, European, African and Asian. Exploitation on an economic level, yet beautiful art, food, and culture happening only because of the mixing of people and cultures.

One of the many problems of Elon Musk is that he only thinks in technological metaphors. Like treating the government like a “server” that can be unplugged and plugged back in.

@tennessippi.bsky.social @wralpheubanks.bsky.social @bittersouth.bsky.social @umsouthdocs.bsky.social help us spread the word!

Some important work being done in the Delta. Give them a follow and support!

I’ve enjoyed taking a little break from this app. Working on music, writing a little more long form, getting great new students, and planning future travels.

The "frontier mindset" is deeply American and is why so many rural Americans (even those that voted for Harris) believe that Trump "won't impact them that much." You would think that with the globalization and digitalization of the world, this ideology would die out, but this myth survives.

Most of the MAGA crew I know can't afford a Tesla.

The GOP is the party of the scamming class.

Working on ole Rick’s new book. #nowreading

The more you learn about other cultures, the more you learn about your own.

Everyone goes to their local court house and receives free ice cream while the music of my choice is playing.

Great ambient album. #nowplaying #musicsky youtu.be/2FfbAzR5Y0A?...

I now believe that virtual political activism is just as important as in-person political activism. I mean, look at the last 10 years of American politics.

I recently was speaking with a Turkish lady that studied for six months in the U.S. Like many people I encounter outside the U.S., she no longer idealizes or trusts the U.S. to do the right thing.

In the Tennessee Valley, FDR’s policies still bolster the infrastructure. My state park, national park, and electricity came from the New Deal. But from where I’m from, the illusion of the frontier mindset and the emotional draw of white grievance politics wins the day.

Tennessee Republicans are just Neo-Confederates.

“…this Jesus was an Indian. He was opposed to material acquirement and to great possessions. He was inclined to peace. He was as unpractical as any Indian and set no price upon his labor of love. These are not the principles upon which the white man has founded his civilization.”

I know “there’s nothing new under the sun” but it does feel paralyzing thinking about how the next 5-10 years of the American experiment will unfold. Truly difficult to make any type of life plans for it – a feeling Americans aren’t used to.

Warrior Stadium Corinth, MS Taken on one of my drives back in January. Per capita, Corinth might have the best mom and pop restaurant game I know. #mississippi #south

#nowplaying #musicsky youtu.be/7gZNTrOTm6w

Stained glass, First Presbyterian Church Savannah, TN 📷 canon at-1 🎞️ Kodak gold 200 #filmphotography #photography #canon #kodak #tennessee #savannah #south #35mm

Musk and Trump are currently building a roux for a class war gumbo.

I think the reason chasing financial independence before retirement age is/was an aspiration for many Americans is because we don’t really have a functioning welfare state and at a certain financial level you can buy your way out of the system.

At the Nepalese restaurant I eat at multiple times a week, the lady at the cashier often wears a shirt: N ever E ending P eace A nd L ove

In my experience in the American South, those that are extroverted get the benefit of the doubt more than those that are introverted. In my experience in the Czech Republic, those that are introverted get the benefit of the doubt more than those that are extroverted.

A good friend’s mother died today – a reminder of the brevity of life and why we celebrate and cherish the good days.

Tariffs Mass layoffs Geopolitical instability Growing wealth inequality Done by two people in a violent culture with more guns than people. You’re playing with fire boys…

Blaming the victim is a trait of an abuser. 🇺🇦 Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

My favorite Czech songwriter, Karel Kryl. His anthem ‘Anděl’ was a soundtrack to the revolution. Link to a performance in this next post.

The good news: Europe seems to be uniting to fight MAGA. The bad news: small town Americans shrug. Where’s Ukraine again?

Embarrassing day to be an American, but has been for several months.

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

We should probably do this economic blackout thing multiple days a week.