Alex Witkowski
@alexincommunity.bsky.social
I help build communities because I believe deeply in communities.
Posting about that + tech, education, music, film, art, and...unfortunately...the Brooklyn Nets.
Posting about that + tech, education, music, film, art, and...unfortunately...the Brooklyn Nets.
Pinned
I'm really invested in how we connect with each other. I want to know more (everything) about it. I want to think about it from every angle.
I'm reading a lot on this and wanted to share some texts and takeaways as I go.
I'd love your recs as well as any musings you have about the topic.
I'm reading a lot on this and wanted to share some texts and takeaways as I go.
I'd love your recs as well as any musings you have about the topic.
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
One thing I'm getting from rooting around in early postwar periodicals is that middlebrow culture was good, actually and we're impoverished for its demise.
February 18, 2026 at 3:27 PM
One thing I'm getting from rooting around in early postwar periodicals is that middlebrow culture was good, actually and we're impoverished for its demise.
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
I live a trad life, living off the land simply, because living natural is the best way. If you want to know how to live off the land simply and without technology, please watch my TikTok videos and join the discord, I also stream on Twitch every Thursday where I scream at women who wear pants
February 18, 2026 at 7:16 PM
I live a trad life, living off the land simply, because living natural is the best way. If you want to know how to live off the land simply and without technology, please watch my TikTok videos and join the discord, I also stream on Twitch every Thursday where I scream at women who wear pants
I don't really understand how this would work mechanically.
Like, books are removed from curricula as soon as they surpass 50 years in publication? Why 50 years specifically?
I hated math as a student. Should I not have had to learn it?
Like, books are removed from curricula as soon as they surpass 50 years in publication? Why 50 years specifically?
I hated math as a student. Should I not have had to learn it?
Meanwhile, on threads, which actually is like what people on twitter think bluesky is like, a "teacher, author, poet" speaks...
February 18, 2026 at 9:59 PM
I don't really understand how this would work mechanically.
Like, books are removed from curricula as soon as they surpass 50 years in publication? Why 50 years specifically?
I hated math as a student. Should I not have had to learn it?
Like, books are removed from curricula as soon as they surpass 50 years in publication? Why 50 years specifically?
I hated math as a student. Should I not have had to learn it?
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
"I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, rather than climb upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions" Zora Neale Hurston
May 29, 2025 at 11:43 AM
"I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, rather than climb upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions" Zora Neale Hurston
Question for my technical friends:
I want to build a personal website (long overdue). I'm not technical--no coding experience. What's the best option?
My priorities (in order) are...
- Ease of use
- Can use custom domain
- Some degree of sovereignty (not totally at the whim of a platform)
I want to build a personal website (long overdue). I'm not technical--no coding experience. What's the best option?
My priorities (in order) are...
- Ease of use
- Can use custom domain
- Some degree of sovereignty (not totally at the whim of a platform)
February 18, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Question for my technical friends:
I want to build a personal website (long overdue). I'm not technical--no coding experience. What's the best option?
My priorities (in order) are...
- Ease of use
- Can use custom domain
- Some degree of sovereignty (not totally at the whim of a platform)
I want to build a personal website (long overdue). I'm not technical--no coding experience. What's the best option?
My priorities (in order) are...
- Ease of use
- Can use custom domain
- Some degree of sovereignty (not totally at the whim of a platform)
“He will be reevaluated by the GM in 4-6 weeks”
Trae Young did not practice today. "He's still not cleared for contact yet," Wizards coach Brian Keefe said when asked about Young.
February 18, 2026 at 8:52 PM
“He will be reevaluated by the GM in 4-6 weeks”
This is the right call but it's also pretty wild that this season we'll miss long if not full-season stretches from Kyrie, Tatum, Giannis, Dame, Hali, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, Jaren Jackson Jr., Fred VanVleet, Domantas Sabonis, Franz Wagner, Walker Kessler, and Trae Young
Per Mavericks: Kyrie Irving will not return this season.
February 18, 2026 at 7:09 PM
This is the right call but it's also pretty wild that this season we'll miss long if not full-season stretches from Kyrie, Tatum, Giannis, Dame, Hali, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, Jaren Jackson Jr., Fred VanVleet, Domantas Sabonis, Franz Wagner, Walker Kessler, and Trae Young
I can't fathom this not breaking someone's heart. I felt a chill overcome my entire body.
ProPublica published children's letters and drawings documenting their sadness and suffering at Dilley. And Dilley staff are now retaliating by confiscating kids' letters and drawings.
www.sacurrent.com/news/san-ant...
www.sacurrent.com/news/san-ant...
February 18, 2026 at 6:37 PM
I can't fathom this not breaking someone's heart. I felt a chill overcome my entire body.
I'm just saying if I were one of the athletes I would be beyond irritated by this lol
February 18, 2026 at 6:22 PM
I'm just saying if I were one of the athletes I would be beyond irritated by this lol
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
I’m constantly astounded at the sheer level of artistic production coming out of Iceland. Novels, movies, music. Amazing.
February 18, 2026 at 2:23 PM
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
tfw you can't even let yourself celebrate for a few days before worrying that everything comes crashing down and actually you're a complete imposter who's going to get exposed any second now
February 18, 2026 at 5:37 AM
tfw you can't even let yourself celebrate for a few days before worrying that everything comes crashing down and actually you're a complete imposter who's going to get exposed any second now
Honestly: Most technology! I think there is plenty of room for the existing experience wrt most technology to get (no joke) like 30% better. More reliable. More user friendly. Even more fun.
But that isn’t an enormous money maker, so no one on “the right” is excited about it.
But that isn’t an enormous money maker, so no one on “the right” is excited about it.
is there a technology that "the left" is excited about?
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
The left is missing out on AI
As a movement, it has largely refused to engage seriously with AI, ceding debate about a threat and opportunity to the right
www.transformernews.ai
February 18, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Honestly: Most technology! I think there is plenty of room for the existing experience wrt most technology to get (no joke) like 30% better. More reliable. More user friendly. Even more fun.
But that isn’t an enormous money maker, so no one on “the right” is excited about it.
But that isn’t an enormous money maker, so no one on “the right” is excited about it.
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
Bloomberg says we've spent $3B on Trump's invasion of Venezuela.
Which is 6X more than the cancer, Alzheimer, diabetes, and heart disease cures they've cut to pay for it.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Which is 6X more than the cancer, Alzheimer, diabetes, and heart disease cures they've cut to pay for it.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Trump's Caribbean Surge Nears $3 Billion Price Tag So Far
The operations around Venezuela that eventually led to the capture of its president pulled in nearly a fifth of the US Navy’s surface fleet at a cost of more than $20 million a day.
www.bloomberg.com
February 17, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Bloomberg says we've spent $3B on Trump's invasion of Venezuela.
Which is 6X more than the cancer, Alzheimer, diabetes, and heart disease cures they've cut to pay for it.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Which is 6X more than the cancer, Alzheimer, diabetes, and heart disease cures they've cut to pay for it.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
it’s important to keep caring about how things work and how they’re built
February 17, 2026 at 9:14 PM
it’s important to keep caring about how things work and how they’re built
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
Early on, the CEO is “the best person at the company” at some things. Often sales (passion + knowledge) or product vision.
But by 100 people, if the CEO is “better than everyone” at 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, the CEO has hired poorly, and the company is suffering.
Tough transition.
But by 100 people, if the CEO is “better than everyone” at 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, the CEO has hired poorly, and the company is suffering.
Tough transition.
February 17, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Early on, the CEO is “the best person at the company” at some things. Often sales (passion + knowledge) or product vision.
But by 100 people, if the CEO is “better than everyone” at 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, the CEO has hired poorly, and the company is suffering.
Tough transition.
But by 100 people, if the CEO is “better than everyone” at 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, the CEO has hired poorly, and the company is suffering.
Tough transition.
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
my cat every day at 4 pm
February 17, 2026 at 9:29 PM
my cat every day at 4 pm
What I find so frustrating about these takes, particularly from people I usually respect, is that they always come down to “You must use this paid product from a private organization” which just feels like an indefensible position relative to my values.
Absolutely brilliant piece about the Left's TOTAL blindness on AI. Their dismissal of AI risks mirrors how climate deniers treat CO2.
Will probably get a lot of nastiness for this on Bluesky, but I guess that's part of the same problem.
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
Will probably get a lot of nastiness for this on Bluesky, but I guess that's part of the same problem.
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
The left is missing out on AI
As a movement, it has largely refused to engage seriously with AI, ceding debate about a threat and opportunity to the right
www.transformernews.ai
February 17, 2026 at 9:25 PM
What I find so frustrating about these takes, particularly from people I usually respect, is that they always come down to “You must use this paid product from a private organization” which just feels like an indefensible position relative to my values.
I want the people who propose these things to participate in a live game-of-life style RPG.
Say you're unhoused. What do you do? Get a job? Oop, your social security card was thrown away in an encampment bust. Oop, you don't have a permanent address to complete your tax form.
Say you're unhoused. What do you do? Get a job? Oop, your social security card was thrown away in an encampment bust. Oop, you don't have a permanent address to complete your tax form.
It costs $130 + a $35 facility fee to obtain a passport and an extra $30 for a passport card. In California, fees for certified copies of vital records are between $18 and $31 each. How is the SAVE Act not a poll tax?
February 17, 2026 at 7:32 PM
I want the people who propose these things to participate in a live game-of-life style RPG.
Say you're unhoused. What do you do? Get a job? Oop, your social security card was thrown away in an encampment bust. Oop, you don't have a permanent address to complete your tax form.
Say you're unhoused. What do you do? Get a job? Oop, your social security card was thrown away in an encampment bust. Oop, you don't have a permanent address to complete your tax form.
Got the Egor Dëmin coogi jersey and I can already tell I'm going to wear this thing until it's falling apart. Fits great. Looks great. Feels great. Worth every cent.
February 17, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Got the Egor Dëmin coogi jersey and I can already tell I'm going to wear this thing until it's falling apart. Fits great. Looks great. Feels great. Worth every cent.
*Everything* is marketing now.
Every purchase opts you into comms that upsell you or sell you more.
Every (already paid!) app still wedges in ads and/or partner bundle offers.
Every piece of content asks you to become a paid subscriber.
Every free offer locks you into paid auto-renewal.
Every purchase opts you into comms that upsell you or sell you more.
Every (already paid!) app still wedges in ads and/or partner bundle offers.
Every piece of content asks you to become a paid subscriber.
Every free offer locks you into paid auto-renewal.
February 17, 2026 at 6:49 PM
*Everything* is marketing now.
Every purchase opts you into comms that upsell you or sell you more.
Every (already paid!) app still wedges in ads and/or partner bundle offers.
Every piece of content asks you to become a paid subscriber.
Every free offer locks you into paid auto-renewal.
Every purchase opts you into comms that upsell you or sell you more.
Every (already paid!) app still wedges in ads and/or partner bundle offers.
Every piece of content asks you to become a paid subscriber.
Every free offer locks you into paid auto-renewal.
I sincerely hope that if I ever post anything that does numbers I can maintain enough self-control not to reply to myself with any sort of “wow this took off” commentary
February 17, 2026 at 7:19 AM
I sincerely hope that if I ever post anything that does numbers I can maintain enough self-control not to reply to myself with any sort of “wow this took off” commentary
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
one of the most frustrating things about there being “no jobs” is that we all walk around and see the work that needs to be done. our cities are crumbling, our people need help, our world is dying. there’s so much work to be done, if only it were good for the balance sheet
February 13, 2026 at 3:27 PM
one of the most frustrating things about there being “no jobs” is that we all walk around and see the work that needs to be done. our cities are crumbling, our people need help, our world is dying. there’s so much work to be done, if only it were good for the balance sheet
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
Here's my pencil artwork of Joan Crawford in the killer Strait-Jacket from 1964 🪓
February 15, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Here's my pencil artwork of Joan Crawford in the killer Strait-Jacket from 1964 🪓
In addition to the many obvious issues with this, you just know this is going to be another thing that’s broken all the time
(5/11) Walmart, Whole Foods, and Kohls are switching to electronic shelf labels that can display dynamic prices. Kroger deployed them with Microsoft AI—a setup a 2024 Senate inquiry warned could enable “surge pricing” via facial recognition. (Kroger claims it will only lower prices.)
February 16, 2026 at 2:41 AM
In addition to the many obvious issues with this, you just know this is going to be another thing that’s broken all the time