Constantine
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ajaxsinger.bsky.social
Constantine
@ajaxsinger.bsky.social
Teacher, writer, story-coach.
TradPub refugee & failed iconoclast

A story: https://tinyurl.com/k3e23k8a
Another: https://l1nq.com/singerinterrupt
Letter Prize Winning Unpublished Manuscript: https://tinyurl.com/Albertthelast
Pinned
An ongoing incomplete list of writing thoughts from a mildly successful writer avoiding writing:

1. Character drives plot: after the inciting incident every event is an action or reaction based on character choice.

2. An MC w/o redeeming values isn't worth reading, so don't write one. 1/x
Having Bellingcat posting about events in my own nation is awful and I am also grateful that they're here.
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
January 24, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Constantine
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
January 24, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Curious how the 30something white bearded gun loving men who've been cheering this on will react to having ICE murder someone who is in many ways one of their own.

I don't expect change, but I'm hoping for at least a painful dissonance.
The 37-year-old man murdered by DHS today in Minneapolis was named Alex Jeffrey Pretti.

He was a nurse so had attended the University of Minnesota.

www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
January 24, 2026 at 7:13 PM
I do hope that those 5k lawyers who've resigned from the DOJ in the last year are available to staff the Tribunals when the time comes. We're going to need them.
He emptied a clip onto the body of an already disarmed man who was prone on the sidewalk from point blank range.
Nine shots? NINE SHOTS
January 24, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Reposted by Constantine
One of the things few people seem understand is that all governing bodies require the consent of the governed. That’s why doomerism is essentially political suicide.
The great thing about popular sovereignty is that, in the end, it's ours. Government needs consent, either willingly given or taken through fear. Rescinding consent is exactly what's happening in MN right now and they're trying to wrest it back with fear. We don't have to let them.
time to take it back
January 24, 2026 at 6:49 PM
He emptied a clip onto the body of an already disarmed man who was prone on the sidewalk from point blank range.
Nine shots? NINE SHOTS
January 24, 2026 at 6:45 PM
In all seriousness all it would take to shift the narrative everywhere would be for a few cops to switch sides. It won't happen.
Am I right in understanding that there are only 600 cops in Minneapolis?
State police declared an unlawful assembly here on 26 st and said they will arrest everyone. In response the protesters moved closer. Riot vehicle is here
January 24, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by Constantine
Where are all the “All Lives Matter” people? The state is killing white folks now.
January 24, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Am I right in understanding that there are only 600 cops in Minneapolis?
State police declared an unlawful assembly here on 26 st and said they will arrest everyone. In response the protesters moved closer. Riot vehicle is here
January 24, 2026 at 6:38 PM
There is no statute of limitations for murder.
January 24, 2026 at 6:37 PM
I would very much like to see Gallegos, Kelly, Beshear, AOC, and even Newsom and Shapiro on Minneapolis streets today. If you're thinking of getting my vote for president and you're not doing the simplest performative act to get it, what are you even doing.
Why is Dem leadership not on the ground in MN? If the answer is “polls show Trump’s disapproval is only -15 on deportations, but -25 on prices,” thats a Bad Use Of Polling and a complete failure in their capacity as leaders to lead public opinion and fight for democracy and the rule of law
January 24, 2026 at 6:29 PM
The great thing about popular sovereignty is that, in the end, it's ours. Government needs consent, either willingly given or taken through fear. Rescinding consent is exactly what's happening in MN right now and they're trying to wrest it back with fear. We don't have to let them.
time to take it back
The world we were promised as kids has been stolen
January 24, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Constantine
time to take it back
The world we were promised as kids has been stolen
January 24, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Reposted by Constantine
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
January 24, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Constantine
Years of Lead except the only lead is thrown by the state.

The Troubles but the only trouble is caused by the state.

The American Turmoil of the late 60s and 70s but the only turmoil is caused by the state.

They're is no historical cognate for what's happening in any democracy.
January 24, 2026 at 5:56 PM
This looks real and would fit both my priors and the facts as I saw them
Looks very likely that the man killed by ICE was disarmed by an ICE agent prior to being shot several times.

An agent walks away with a handgun that matches the handgun the man was carrying.
January 24, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Constantine
I do not feel like you can put a bunch of law enforcement officers in such a heated environment, with little to no red lines, and not have something bad happen like this.

This is not excusing any behavior, rather it’s placing the blame at the top of the food chain.
January 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM
I'd love to say DHS is way off the reservation for law enforcement reactions to officers killing people, but aside from the photo this is only a little worse than bog standard.
DHS is already trying to shape the narrative, making claims about the supposedly violent motivations of the victim.
January 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Years of Lead except the only lead is thrown by the state.

The Troubles but the only trouble is caused by the state.

The American Turmoil of the late 60s and 70s but the only turmoil is caused by the state.

They're is no historical cognate for what's happening in any democracy.
January 24, 2026 at 5:56 PM
It's time to take the general strike national. It's time to call the MAGA relatives murderers to their faces. It's time to threaten primaries for electeds who won't impeach. It's time to shout ENOUGH with a single national voice.
January 24, 2026 at 5:45 PM
I love Taix and will miss it terribly in its kitchy old form but losing a parking lot and a 60s theme building to gain nearly 200 housing units and a reborn Taix 321 Bar and Restaurant is well worth it.
From the LosAngeles community on Reddit: Taix Restaurant in Echo Park announces upcoming closure
Explore this post and more from the LosAngeles community
www.reddit.com
January 24, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Cool evening.
January 24, 2026 at 7:19 AM
Reposted by Constantine
Five concerts you’ve seen with women lead singers

Lilith Fair
Garbage
No Doubt
Fiona Apple
Bat for Lashes
5 concerts you've seen with women lead singers.

Bikini Kill
L7
The Gits
7 Year Bitch
Hammerbox
Five concerts you've seen with women lead singers

Cauchemar
Nihilus (my friends' tech death band)
Angel Dust (long defunct local rock band)
Beth Hart
My friend Sangeeta Hosea's gigs
January 24, 2026 at 7:14 AM
5 concerts you've seen with women lead singers.

Bikini Kill
L7
The Gits
7 Year Bitch
Hammerbox
Five concerts you've seen with women lead singers

Cauchemar
Nihilus (my friends' tech death band)
Angel Dust (long defunct local rock band)
Beth Hart
My friend Sangeeta Hosea's gigs
Five concerts you've seen with women lead singers

Pretenders
Lucinda Williams
Fleetwood Mac
Florence + The Machine
Garbage
January 24, 2026 at 7:09 AM
:: Dons a suit of armor::

Dunkin's donuts are mid and don't smell that good.
January 24, 2026 at 1:59 AM