Ben from New Mexico
@bluefiddleguy.bsky.social
Former Mathematician, Tech worker, Empty nester dad, concerned observer.
Found this track after 30 years of trying to remember where I heard it -- violin sounds like magical CARDBOARD! Tired working too many hours. so I'm going to walk for 3 kilometers with this on repeat strolling like the world is MINE www.youtube.com/watch?v=goNO...
Sobabamba
YouTube video by Udokotela Shange Namajaha - Topic
www.youtube.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Found this track after 30 years of trying to remember where I heard it -- violin sounds like magical CARDBOARD! Tired working too many hours. so I'm going to walk for 3 kilometers with this on repeat strolling like the world is MINE www.youtube.com/watch?v=goNO...
Never thought about this before, but 🚴♂️ is the main reason I have an intuitive understanding about how much real racism (consistent bad effects on non-white people caused by white ppl) can exist without open racial animosity by white ppl : ppl who don't _hate_ bikes make biking miserable.
I've said on here before, that I love the transformative power bikes have on how people think about interacting with each other🚴🏼♀️♥️
Having a bike stolen resets a white US person's understanding of what cops do and do not do
Commuting on a bike resets a white US person's understanding of racist infra
Having a bike stolen resets a white US person's understanding of what cops do and do not do
Commuting on a bike resets a white US person's understanding of racist infra
I love bikes, especially cargo bikes and attachments for kids, because it's only about a 5 year learning journey for white folk from
👩🏼"I'm not political."
To
👩🏼🚴🏼♀️"Hey Mekka! I bought a cargo bike! It's so much fun!"
To
👩🏼🚴🏼♀️🥊"🤬Man, Robert Moses was a %!#!#&@)+ for real! $#&* him and his momma!"
👩🏼"I'm not political."
To
👩🏼🚴🏼♀️"Hey Mekka! I bought a cargo bike! It's so much fun!"
To
👩🏼🚴🏼♀️🥊"🤬Man, Robert Moses was a %!#!#&@)+ for real! $#&* him and his momma!"
February 10, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Never thought about this before, but 🚴♂️ is the main reason I have an intuitive understanding about how much real racism (consistent bad effects on non-white people caused by white ppl) can exist without open racial animosity by white ppl : ppl who don't _hate_ bikes make biking miserable.
Let's play " who wants to get another discharge petition?"
Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday he is moving forward with a plan to revive a prohibition on House votes to overturn President Donald Trump’s global tariffs.
www.politico.com/live-updates...
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Johnson moves to again block House from voting on Trump tariffs
Opposition from as few as two Republicans could derail the effort.
www.politico.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Let's play " who wants to get another discharge petition?"
My second-last substack subscription ends today. I'm BEGGING @hcrichardson.bsky.social , @thebulwark.com , @zeteo.com , and all the other anti-authoritarians on substack to offer an alternative subscription platform (in addition is good enough) because of this problem: karlbode.com/substack-sti...
Substack Still Has A Nazi Problem (And Doesn't Care)
For several years Substack has been accused of coddling white supremacy and fascist ideology for cash. And despite several major scandals and a mass defection of ethical authors, there's little seriou...
karlbode.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:29 PM
My second-last substack subscription ends today. I'm BEGGING @hcrichardson.bsky.social , @thebulwark.com , @zeteo.com , and all the other anti-authoritarians on substack to offer an alternative subscription platform (in addition is good enough) because of this problem: karlbode.com/substack-sti...
Very plausible.
one of my strongest beliefs is that we're in our situation right now bc some of the most prominent talking heads (e.g. joe rogan, andrew schulz) are learning about politics in their 40s and 50s, instead of their teens and early 20s, and we have to go along for the ride as they learn basic things
February 4, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Very plausible.
I am not a natural anti-Amazon person. Amazon was 3 months old the first time I bought from them, I applied to work with them 4 times, and I spent $3500.00 at Amazon and Whole Foods in 2024.
But since 11/5/2024? $100.00, all of it one item (char) at whole foods.
Reconsider ANY purchase there.
But since 11/5/2024? $100.00, all of it one item (char) at whole foods.
Reconsider ANY purchase there.
February 4, 2026 at 10:39 PM
I am not a natural anti-Amazon person. Amazon was 3 months old the first time I bought from them, I applied to work with them 4 times, and I spent $3500.00 at Amazon and Whole Foods in 2024.
But since 11/5/2024? $100.00, all of it one item (char) at whole foods.
Reconsider ANY purchase there.
But since 11/5/2024? $100.00, all of it one item (char) at whole foods.
Reconsider ANY purchase there.
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
one thing the trump era has made clear, i think, is that the american people themselves are far more committed to the values of our founding documents than our elites
February 4, 2026 at 4:07 AM
one thing the trump era has made clear, i think, is that the american people themselves are far more committed to the values of our founding documents than our elites
![Comic. Conjecture: It’s possible to construct a convincing proof without words, pictures, or content of any kind. Proof: [empty box] [caption] Proofs without words are cool, but we can go further.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiaukmlmzx6xhbcjej4rq5axkf7a25sjywnvodd53dgnebmt4ver5a@jpeg)
February 3, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
"Having a Black woman in a movie about the Greek Gods sending Odysseus on a decade long hell trip fighting endless monsters en route home from the God War is not Historically Accurate" y'all are the truly dumbest motherfuckers ever born on this rock hurtling through the void.
February 3, 2026 at 3:37 PM
"Having a Black woman in a movie about the Greek Gods sending Odysseus on a decade long hell trip fighting endless monsters en route home from the God War is not Historically Accurate" y'all are the truly dumbest motherfuckers ever born on this rock hurtling through the void.
Mostly the whitest answers.
FFF - A different life from coal mining.
FMFF - Avoiding military conscription in Prussia
FMMM - Potato Famine
MFF's people - Southern Planters.
MFM's people - avoiding conscription in Mexico
MMMM - Potato Famine.
MMF - Avoiding conscription in the Russian Empire.
FFF - A different life from coal mining.
FMFF - Avoiding military conscription in Prussia
FMMM - Potato Famine
MFF's people - Southern Planters.
MFM's people - avoiding conscription in Mexico
MMMM - Potato Famine.
MMF - Avoiding conscription in the Russian Empire.
Genuinely curious: If your family is American, what brought them here?
Mine: religious nuttery & primogeniture
Mine: religious nuttery & primogeniture
February 3, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Mostly the whitest answers.
FFF - A different life from coal mining.
FMFF - Avoiding military conscription in Prussia
FMMM - Potato Famine
MFF's people - Southern Planters.
MFM's people - avoiding conscription in Mexico
MMMM - Potato Famine.
MMF - Avoiding conscription in the Russian Empire.
FFF - A different life from coal mining.
FMFF - Avoiding military conscription in Prussia
FMMM - Potato Famine
MFF's people - Southern Planters.
MFM's people - avoiding conscription in Mexico
MMMM - Potato Famine.
MMF - Avoiding conscription in the Russian Empire.
"Violence can destroy power; it is utterly incapable of creating it." -- Hannah Arendt
January 30, 2026 at 4:42 PM
"Violence can destroy power; it is utterly incapable of creating it." -- Hannah Arendt
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
Wild that there was an open lane called "what if we just explain things clearly to people?" and he's the first one to ever fill it
The City’s Budget is our future. And you deserve to know how it works.
January 30, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Wild that there was an open lane called "what if we just explain things clearly to people?" and he's the first one to ever fill it
One pet peeve I have is "mind reading" reporting, especially when it's provably false. President Trump has revealed several times that he knows he lost the 2020 election. He is not obsessed or deluded about this : he is knowingly using the lie to cause more harm. apnews.com/article/trum...
FBI raid in Georgia highlights Trump's 2020 election obsession and hints at possible future actions
President Donald Trump is pushing the federal government to back up his bogus claims that widespread fraud cost him reelection in 2020.
apnews.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:44 PM
One pet peeve I have is "mind reading" reporting, especially when it's provably false. President Trump has revealed several times that he knows he lost the 2020 election. He is not obsessed or deluded about this : he is knowingly using the lie to cause more harm. apnews.com/article/trum...
One out of six of respondents who said they voted for Trump are in favor of abolishing ICE altogether. That seems like an underrated development.
New poll — Abolishing ICE continues its historic surge of support.
46% support
43% oppose
80% of Democrats and 15% of Trump voters support abolishing ICE.
Independents are +8 on the question.
46% support
43% oppose
80% of Democrats and 15% of Trump voters support abolishing ICE.
Independents are +8 on the question.
January 29, 2026 at 4:11 PM
One out of six of respondents who said they voted for Trump are in favor of abolishing ICE altogether. That seems like an underrated development.
Remember folks, if we're talking about élites and government officials, then snitches get...
GREAT BIG MICROPHONES!
GREAT BIG MICROPHONES!
Genuinely interesting. Kristi Noem is snitching that Stephen Miller is the one who made up the bullshit about Alex Pretti.
It would be genuinely useful if Congress can get her to admit that he has been dictating ALL OF THIS just like he dictated the murderboats.
www.axios.com/2026/01/27/t...
It would be genuinely useful if Congress can get her to admit that he has been dictating ALL OF THIS just like he dictated the murderboats.
www.axios.com/2026/01/27/t...
January 27, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Remember folks, if we're talking about élites and government officials, then snitches get...
GREAT BIG MICROPHONES!
GREAT BIG MICROPHONES!
CNN exit polls had 2024 Trump winning 57% of white people (now 51% disapprove in this poll) and 55% of men voting Trump (now 54% disapprove). NOT a coincidence that first retreat happens the same week white voters and male voters turn on Trump (white AND male voters probably still well over 50%+)
Economist/YouGov poll shows Trump's approval with
White people:
47% approve
51% disapprove
Hispanics:
27%
68%
18-29:
32%
63%
Men:
43%
54%
Women:
35%
60%
White people:
47% approve
51% disapprove
Hispanics:
27%
68%
18-29:
32%
63%
Men:
43%
54%
Women:
35%
60%
January 27, 2026 at 7:32 PM
CNN exit polls had 2024 Trump winning 57% of white people (now 51% disapprove in this poll) and 55% of men voting Trump (now 54% disapprove). NOT a coincidence that first retreat happens the same week white voters and male voters turn on Trump (white AND male voters probably still well over 50%+)
"Classical Liberals". More like John Woke Shill, Them/They-vid Hume, and John Woke Ammirite?
January 26, 2026 at 8:54 PM
"Classical Liberals". More like John Woke Shill, Them/They-vid Hume, and John Woke Ammirite?
Sliced a half-dime chunk off my thumb last night, avoided the ER by a mm; my only suffering is that I can't button my top button; fairly lucky in context.
January 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Sliced a half-dime chunk off my thumb last night, avoided the ER by a mm; my only suffering is that I can't button my top button; fairly lucky in context.
I agree with this 100%. I also think (and hardly think @jamellebouie.net would disagree) that the Trump administration can and will _push_ the election illegally and unfairly, and it's a great idea for us to fight that with the same strength that we would if the elections themselves were in peril.
strange to me that a lot of people on this website simultaneously agree that the administration is run by incompetents who struggle to carry out their agenda without major political blowback AND that they’ll pull off a complex and sophisticated effort to rig elections and prevent defeat in November
January 25, 2026 at 4:55 PM
I agree with this 100%. I also think (and hardly think @jamellebouie.net would disagree) that the Trump administration can and will _push_ the election illegally and unfairly, and it's a great idea for us to fight that with the same strength that we would if the elections themselves were in peril.
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
I just thought everyone should see this
January 22, 2026 at 11:02 PM
I just thought everyone should see this
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
Hockey question : Do you get a 5 minute major penalty for slash fiction?
January 22, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Hockey question : Do you get a 5 minute major penalty for slash fiction?
@maggietokudahall.bsky.social and all other pigeon fans, witness:
January 19, 2026 at 9:03 PM
@maggietokudahall.bsky.social and all other pigeon fans, witness:
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
It’s ironic that they’re like “if we do ethnic cleansing we’ll have a high trust neighborly society” and then Minneapolis is literally doing high trust neighborly society and they’re like nooooo
Many Americans are terrible neighbors to each other, and that is why MN is striking everyone as extraordinary activism... when they are telling us that it is not. They're good neighbors!
It's no wonder that "being a shitty neighbor" is the hallmark of our domestic politics and our foreign policy.
It's no wonder that "being a shitty neighbor" is the hallmark of our domestic politics and our foreign policy.
January 18, 2026 at 6:24 PM
It’s ironic that they’re like “if we do ethnic cleansing we’ll have a high trust neighborly society” and then Minneapolis is literally doing high trust neighborly society and they’re like nooooo