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.
*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
Went to the annual Oakland Museum White Elephant sale yesterday and found a Nets legend for $2.
Gonna take my chances that this isn’t going to skyrocket in value and take him out of the package for a desk ornament.
Gonna take my chances that this isn’t going to skyrocket in value and take him out of the package for a desk ornament.
February 15, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Went to the annual Oakland Museum White Elephant sale yesterday and found a Nets legend for $2.
Gonna take my chances that this isn’t going to skyrocket in value and take him out of the package for a desk ornament.
Gonna take my chances that this isn’t going to skyrocket in value and take him out of the package for a desk ornament.
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
“I’ve never protested before - but I just watched 4th & 5th grade kids run away from our own government.” 😕🇺🇸💔
(From @crindivisible.bsky.social )
(From @crindivisible.bsky.social )
February 15, 2026 at 12:45 AM
“I’ve never protested before - but I just watched 4th & 5th grade kids run away from our own government.” 😕🇺🇸💔
(From @crindivisible.bsky.social )
(From @crindivisible.bsky.social )
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
Red Lobster Dewgarita (2020-2022): A cocktail made with sour apple liquor, tequila, and classic Mtn Dew, served in a glass with a dusting of red sugar crystals on the rim, and a slice of lime. It cost $10, and came with a side of Red Lobster's warm cheddar bay biscuits
August 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Red Lobster Dewgarita (2020-2022): A cocktail made with sour apple liquor, tequila, and classic Mtn Dew, served in a glass with a dusting of red sugar crystals on the rim, and a slice of lime. It cost $10, and came with a side of Red Lobster's warm cheddar bay biscuits
There is no way I’m going to a tattoo parlor that has an AI-generated poster on the front lol visual art is literally what you do!
February 14, 2026 at 2:59 AM
There is no way I’m going to a tattoo parlor that has an AI-generated poster on the front lol visual art is literally what you do!
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
February 13, 2026 at 7:41 PM
On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
It took me too long to see that the coolest things in tech are the little vestiges of what was once considered nerd culture (things like the numbering conventions for version controls) because they represent a meticulousness about the craft that is rarely treated as a badge of honor as much anymore
February 13, 2026 at 8:38 AM
It took me too long to see that the coolest things in tech are the little vestiges of what was once considered nerd culture (things like the numbering conventions for version controls) because they represent a meticulousness about the craft that is rarely treated as a badge of honor as much anymore
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
Lithuanian Olympic uniforms by Issey Miyake for the 1992 games in Barcelona. This was Lithuania's first time in the Olympics after gaining independence from the Soviet Union. Fabric was cut and shaped using heat, not scissors or sewing machines.
February 7, 2026 at 5:33 AM
Lithuanian Olympic uniforms by Issey Miyake for the 1992 games in Barcelona. This was Lithuania's first time in the Olympics after gaining independence from the Soviet Union. Fabric was cut and shaped using heat, not scissors or sewing machines.
Man, few things make me feel as pukey as a line that you can immediately tell someone rehearsed for their staff 5 or 10 times before the cameras started rolling
Rep. Brian Steil: "I flew home to my home state of Wisconsin, went to buy a 6 pack a beer, the clerk asked for my ID, confirmed it, and then I was allowed to buy the beer. I just think it's nuts that we protect our beer more than our ballots."
February 13, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Man, few things make me feel as pukey as a line that you can immediately tell someone rehearsed for their staff 5 or 10 times before the cameras started rolling
Accidentally clicked on an ESPN article last night with early predictions for next season and one of the people they asked for takes was a sports betting analyst!
I know nothing is pure anymore but this really feels dystopian!
I know nothing is pure anymore but this really feels dystopian!
Feels especially relevant as betting becomes increasingly embedded into the league (still reeling from the first time I heard color announcers say the spread for a game out loud before tip-off)
Even the word “tanking” makes what's transpiring around the #NBA sound like a toddler purposely knocking over a tower of blocks. No harm, no foul. Let’s start by calling it what it is. These teams are fixing games. Link: #Nets
open.substack.com/pub/stevelic...
open.substack.com/pub/stevelic...
February 12, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Accidentally clicked on an ESPN article last night with early predictions for next season and one of the people they asked for takes was a sports betting analyst!
I know nothing is pure anymore but this really feels dystopian!
I know nothing is pure anymore but this really feels dystopian!
Lol
Waymo, Google’s autonomous vehicle company, and DoorDash have launched a pilot program that pays delivery workers, at least in one case, around $10 to travel to a parked Waymo and close its door that a previous passenger left open, according to a joint statement from the company given to 404 Media.
Waymo Is Getting DoorDashers to Close Doors on Self Driving Cars
The companies have launched a pilot program in Atlanta, where “during the rare event a vehicle door is left ajar, preventing the car from departing, nearby Dashers are notified, allowing Waymo to get ...
www.404media.co
February 12, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Lol
This is especially true when absolutely nothing is done about any feedback and negative reviews are often pruned. What “Please review X” is actually asking for is free UGC marketing.
I wonder if companies understand that consumers don't owe them any additional favors (in the form of offering reviews) after we have given them money for a good or service. it is a curious situation. the favor was already granted in the form of...money?
February 12, 2026 at 5:20 PM
This is especially true when absolutely nothing is done about any feedback and negative reviews are often pruned. What “Please review X” is actually asking for is free UGC marketing.
I do think tanking is particularly shameless this year but I also think there’s an undercurrent of shamelessness around the world right now and everyone’s kind of like “well nothing matters and nobody’s facing consequences anyway sooo…”
Chris Haynes: "BREAKING: Utah Jazz star Jaren Jackson Jr. is likely to miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery on his left knee to ensure his longterm health after a localized PVNS growth was discovered post trade, league sources tell me."
February 12, 2026 at 4:11 PM
I do think tanking is particularly shameless this year but I also think there’s an undercurrent of shamelessness around the world right now and everyone’s kind of like “well nothing matters and nobody’s facing consequences anyway sooo…”
This is my Super Bowl
John Tesh to perform 'Roundball Rock' live at All-Star Game
Sunday will mark the first live performance of John Tesh's song in a sports arena, the NBA said. Ludacris will perform Saturday before the All-Star dunk contest.
www.espn.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:03 PM
This is my Super Bowl
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
During these 37 years here's the average job growth per year under the two parties:
Democrats - 2,500,000
Republicans - 90,000 2/
Democrats - 2,500,000
Republicans - 90,000 2/
February 11, 2026 at 3:15 PM
During these 37 years here's the average job growth per year under the two parties:
Democrats - 2,500,000
Republicans - 90,000 2/
Democrats - 2,500,000
Republicans - 90,000 2/
Reposted by Alex Witkowski
If you’re in New York anytime soon this exhibition of old national park posters looks great www.posterhouse.org/exhibition/b...
February 2, 2026 at 1:03 PM
If you’re in New York anytime soon this exhibition of old national park posters looks great www.posterhouse.org/exhibition/b...
Been feeling this way about “Let me be clear” recently, which at one point was effective to distill or emphasize a point but now makes a statement feel too rehearsed
Strange how intensifying words, e.g. "frankly," "honestly," "legitimately," etc. have become so overused that they are now words that dilute instead. See also: literally. Wondering if it's a case of 'when everything is intensified, nothing is' or if adverbs are as weakening as everyone said.
February 11, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Been feeling this way about “Let me be clear” recently, which at one point was effective to distill or emphasize a point but now makes a statement feel too rehearsed
Tonight we are all Pacers fans 🫡
February 11, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Tonight we are all Pacers fans 🫡
The thing is, no matter where you are on the AI sentiment spectrum, it feels at a minimum prudent and at most downright essential to make medicine, law, education, and governance the absolute last places it gets integrated because the stakes are pretty inarguably the highest.
When AI was added to a tool for sinus surgery: “Cerebrospinal fluid leaked from one patient’s nose. In another… a surgeon mistakenly punctured the base of a patient’s skull. In two other cases, patients suffered strokes after a major artery was accidentally injured”
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts
Medical device makers have been rushing to add AI to their products. While proponents say the new technology will revolutionize medicine, regulators are receiving a rising number of claims of patient ...
www.reuters.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:03 AM
The thing is, no matter where you are on the AI sentiment spectrum, it feels at a minimum prudent and at most downright essential to make medicine, law, education, and governance the absolute last places it gets integrated because the stakes are pretty inarguably the highest.
Feels especially relevant as betting becomes increasingly embedded into the league (still reeling from the first time I heard color announcers say the spread for a game out loud before tip-off)
Even the word “tanking” makes what's transpiring around the #NBA sound like a toddler purposely knocking over a tower of blocks. No harm, no foul. Let’s start by calling it what it is. These teams are fixing games. Link: #Nets
open.substack.com/pub/stevelic...
open.substack.com/pub/stevelic...
Silver Needs To Be Confronted On What Tanking Has Become: Game Fixing
For no good reason, I caught the end of Monday night’s Jazz/Heat contest.
open.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Feels especially relevant as betting becomes increasingly embedded into the league (still reeling from the first time I heard color announcers say the spread for a game out loud before tip-off)