Bessie the Normie
@bessiefromsgv.bsky.social
Taiwan commentary and food recs: https://www.taiwanese-expat.com
Techno-realist
Food pics + Politics
🇹🇼🇺🇸Taiwanese-American based in Taiwan
🗽 Proud New Yorker
🌴 California-raised in the 626
Techno-realist
Food pics + Politics
🇹🇼🇺🇸Taiwanese-American based in Taiwan
🗽 Proud New Yorker
🌴 California-raised in the 626
"Those of us who believe in liberty and dignity, goodness and generosity, must never give in to the forces arrayed against the things we hold dearest. The battle can be exhausting, but it is a battle to which we are called by conscience and by love of country."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
America Is Great When America Is Good
Those who believe in liberty and dignity must never give in to the forces arrayed against the things we hold dearest.
www.theatlantic.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:26 AM
"Those of us who believe in liberty and dignity, goodness and generosity, must never give in to the forces arrayed against the things we hold dearest. The battle can be exhausting, but it is a battle to which we are called by conscience and by love of country."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
“He promised things that Europeans take for granted, but Americans are told are impossible,” said the Dutch environmentalist and former government adviser Alexander Verbeek in the wake of Tuesday’s election.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’
Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:11 AM
“He promised things that Europeans take for granted, but Americans are told are impossible,” said the Dutch environmentalist and former government adviser Alexander Verbeek in the wake of Tuesday’s election.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
NEW on CNN: Inside the “absolute shitshow” at the Heritage Foundation. Where staff are in open revolt, a major donor bailing, and resurfaced deleted tweets from Kevin Roberts show him praising Pence and seemingly bashing Trump on Jan. 6th.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
How Nick Fuentes ignited a civil war within the Republican Party- and DC’s most prominent conservative think tank | CNN Politics
Nick Fuentes, the well-known White nationalist and Holocaust denier, has ignited a civil war within the Republican Party — and inside one of Washington’s most prominent conservative think tanks.
www.cnn.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Stunning sunset tonight in Taipei
November 6, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Stunning sunset tonight in Taipei
The amount of times I had to blink reading these sentences and then reading the news story
bsky.app/profile/nyti...
bsky.app/profile/nyti...
Hundreds of protesters in Paris gathered as Shein, the Chinese fast-fashion retailer, opened its first physical store. The French government also suspended online access to the retailer after the discovery this week of child pornography sex dolls posted for sale. nyti.ms/3WCYXJd
November 6, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The amount of times I had to blink reading these sentences and then reading the news story
bsky.app/profile/nyti...
bsky.app/profile/nyti...
Seeing 黃皮 MAGA 川粉 Taiwan conservatives crash out over Zohran Mamdani and Michelle Wu, while failing to understand the best parts of quality of life in Taiwan like 全民健保, our national healthcare system that ranks among the best in the world, is a cornerstone of social democracy.
November 6, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Seeing 黃皮 MAGA 川粉 Taiwan conservatives crash out over Zohran Mamdani and Michelle Wu, while failing to understand the best parts of quality of life in Taiwan like 全民健保, our national healthcare system that ranks among the best in the world, is a cornerstone of social democracy.
"As Reed sees it, it’s all connected. Washington’s failings on social media led to an uptick in everything from online bullying to an increase in digital sex trafficking. Washington failing on AI would mean undercutting the very foundations of American life."
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Biden’s Elusive AI Whisperer Finally Goes On the Record. Here's His Warning.
Bruce Reed had seen the pitfalls of letting Big Tech run roughshod over government. He is determined not to make the same mistakes on AI.
www.politico.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:22 PM
"As Reed sees it, it’s all connected. Washington’s failings on social media led to an uptick in everything from online bullying to an increase in digital sex trafficking. Washington failing on AI would mean undercutting the very foundations of American life."
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
November 5, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I was talking about Mamdani to a German friend after the primary and explaining people freaking out. The response: "What Americans think is a communism is just a nice community in Europe."
bsky.app/profile/jeff...
bsky.app/profile/jeff...
Der Spiegel is impressed: The Socialist is the Democrats' new superstar and a model for Berlin's next election.
November 5, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I was talking about Mamdani to a German friend after the primary and explaining people freaking out. The response: "What Americans think is a communism is just a nice community in Europe."
bsky.app/profile/jeff...
bsky.app/profile/jeff...
It's time for the millennial era in governance. We have to be a caretaker generation
bsky.app/profile/fact...
bsky.app/profile/fact...
November 5, 2025 at 3:44 AM
It's time for the millennial era in governance. We have to be a caretaker generation
bsky.app/profile/fact...
bsky.app/profile/fact...
Reposted by Bessie the Normie
A sneak peek at the cover of next week’s issue, which celebrates Zohran Mamdani’s historic win. #NewYorkerCovers
https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/451hFM
https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/451hFM
November 5, 2025 at 3:15 AM
A sneak peek at the cover of next week’s issue, which celebrates Zohran Mamdani’s historic win. #NewYorkerCovers
https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/451hFM
https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/451hFM
I Love New York
November 5, 2025 at 3:31 AM
I Love New York
Reposted by Bessie the Normie
Wow it turns out the entire country is not permanently reactionary because Trump won an election by 1.5%
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Wow it turns out the entire country is not permanently reactionary because Trump won an election by 1.5%
Reposted by Bessie the Normie
Early this morning, our city still plunged into darkness, I set off to walk the Brooklyn Bridge.
As the sun came up, we were joined by canvassers, labor leaders, elected officials, and working people — a movement to bring a new day to our city.
Tomorrow, we win it together.
As the sun came up, we were joined by canvassers, labor leaders, elected officials, and working people — a movement to bring a new day to our city.
Tomorrow, we win it together.
November 3, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Early this morning, our city still plunged into darkness, I set off to walk the Brooklyn Bridge.
As the sun came up, we were joined by canvassers, labor leaders, elected officials, and working people — a movement to bring a new day to our city.
Tomorrow, we win it together.
As the sun came up, we were joined by canvassers, labor leaders, elected officials, and working people — a movement to bring a new day to our city.
Tomorrow, we win it together.
"Seeing other people act makes it less frightening to join in protest. Even more important is an unspoken principle my conversations with these Israelis reminded me of: To be a good citizen of a bad state, one has to do scary things."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/o...
Opinion | How to Be a Good Citizen When Your Country Does Bad Things
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:22 AM
"Seeing other people act makes it less frightening to join in protest. Even more important is an unspoken principle my conversations with these Israelis reminded me of: To be a good citizen of a bad state, one has to do scary things."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/o...
This is the stuff I miss about America: "These days, it seems that clubs are out, and Filipino grocery stores are in. All you need are comfortable shoes, an appetite for street food and a brave friend to join you in the line dance when a Tita beckons."
www.kqed.org/arts/1398311...
www.kqed.org/arts/1398311...
The Bay Area’s Hottest Club Is a Filipino Supermarket
For Filipino Americans, dance parties at the Seafood City in Daly City are more than just a viral sensation.
www.kqed.org
November 2, 2025 at 5:25 AM
This is the stuff I miss about America: "These days, it seems that clubs are out, and Filipino grocery stores are in. All you need are comfortable shoes, an appetite for street food and a brave friend to join you in the line dance when a Tita beckons."
www.kqed.org/arts/1398311...
www.kqed.org/arts/1398311...
The lack of action on poor road safety and political dysfunction it represents is one the most depressing parts about Taiwan. Deadlock caused by political polarization and dark money is a global issue, but Taiwan's lack of care and will around road safety feels particular.
bsky.app/profile/ryan...
bsky.app/profile/ryan...
Last year, an unlicensed elderly driver killed two children in central Taiwan when he drove his SUV 77kph down a narrow side street outside their school.
The tragedy and public outrage were an opportunity to finally improve Taiwan’s “pedestrian hell.” Instead, he’s been sentenced to just 14 months.
The tragedy and public outrage were an opportunity to finally improve Taiwan’s “pedestrian hell.” Instead, he’s been sentenced to just 14 months.
無照翁撞死彰化姊妹判1年2月 祖父：太輕盼上訴 | 社會 | 中央社 CNA
74歲蕭姓男子去年於彰化縣伸港鄉無照駕駛撞擊陳姓3姊弟遭判刑1年2月，3姊弟的祖父今天告訴中央社記者，2孫女相繼過世，這樣判太輕，實在不公平，希望檢察官提上訴。
www.cna.com.tw
November 1, 2025 at 4:30 AM
The lack of action on poor road safety and political dysfunction it represents is one the most depressing parts about Taiwan. Deadlock caused by political polarization and dark money is a global issue, but Taiwan's lack of care and will around road safety feels particular.
bsky.app/profile/ryan...
bsky.app/profile/ryan...
Reposted by Bessie the Normie
from sarah gorden:
October 31, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Apparently White people don't have a concept or community of aunties and uncles. It kind of makes me sad and explains a lot about the loneliness epidemic in America.
newrepublic.com/post/202350/...
newrepublic.com/post/202350/...
Mamdani Forced to Explain to MAGA How Brown People Use the Word “Aunt”
MAGA is completely losing it after New York Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani told a story about his “aunt” who wasn’t really his parent’s sibling.
newrepublic.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Apparently White people don't have a concept or community of aunties and uncles. It kind of makes me sad and explains a lot about the loneliness epidemic in America.
newrepublic.com/post/202350/...
newrepublic.com/post/202350/...
October 29, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I did not expect this wonderful feel good story today to grace my doomscrolling:
'That sense of urgency in the hospital “charges you up,” Ferguson added. “And that was one of the first places I experienced that feeling again outside of football.”'
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/w...
'That sense of urgency in the hospital “charges you up,” Ferguson added. “And that was one of the first places I experienced that feeling again outside of football.”'
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/w...
The N.F.L. Players Trading Their Helmets for Scrubs
www.nytimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I did not expect this wonderful feel good story today to grace my doomscrolling:
'That sense of urgency in the hospital “charges you up,” Ferguson added. “And that was one of the first places I experienced that feeling again outside of football.”'
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/w...
'That sense of urgency in the hospital “charges you up,” Ferguson added. “And that was one of the first places I experienced that feeling again outside of football.”'
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/w...
I wrote a bit about the contradiction of English language discussions by foreigners that praise great quality of life Taiwan (the good things are true) coexisting with the reality of a cruel labor market that causes talented people to leave.
bessiefromsgv.substack.com/p/why-do-peo...
bessiefromsgv.substack.com/p/why-do-peo...
Why Do People Leave Taiwan?
What a recent death of an Eva Airlines flight attendant reveals
bessiefromsgv.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:25 AM
I wrote a bit about the contradiction of English language discussions by foreigners that praise great quality of life Taiwan (the good things are true) coexisting with the reality of a cruel labor market that causes talented people to leave.
bessiefromsgv.substack.com/p/why-do-peo...
bessiefromsgv.substack.com/p/why-do-peo...
Sitting at this old timey cafe today, Cafe Astoria, doing some personal writing and feeling gratitude to be one droplet in the ocean of stories here.
The haunt of Taiwan's literary giants and the aspirational youth of a different time, including my parents.
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
The haunt of Taiwan's literary giants and the aspirational youth of a different time, including my parents.
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
October 27, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Sitting at this old timey cafe today, Cafe Astoria, doing some personal writing and feeling gratitude to be one droplet in the ocean of stories here.
The haunt of Taiwan's literary giants and the aspirational youth of a different time, including my parents.
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...
The haunt of Taiwan's literary giants and the aspirational youth of a different time, including my parents.
www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/ar...