Dean Barker
@deanbarker.bsky.social
"Weird composer; weird way of thinking...It is rare to find someone who is mad about Schumann, but I love him very much." - Mitsuko Uchida
Reposted by Dean Barker
Living through this era really sheds new light on how colonial Massachusetts allowed the Salem Witch Trials to happen
January 7, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Living through this era really sheds new light on how colonial Massachusetts allowed the Salem Witch Trials to happen
Reposted by Dean Barker
please just consider how careful this email is
Thanks to @brianleiter.bsky.social, we can read an excerpt from Texas A&M philosophy professor Martin Peterson's initial letter to his department head, Kristi Sweet, as well as his syllabus. leiterreports.com/2026/01/06/t...
January 7, 2026 at 2:48 AM
please just consider how careful this email is
Reposted by Dean Barker
Tonight I'll be reading the 1995 essay by Umberto Ecco, "Ur-Fascism." I've read it before and I will undoubtedly read it again. I recommend it to all.
www.nybooks.com/articles/199...
www.nybooks.com/articles/199...
Ur-Fascism | Umberto Eco
I think it is possible to outline a list of features that are typical of what I would like to call Ur-Fascism, or Eternal Fascism. These features cannot be organized into a system; many of them contra...
www.nybooks.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Tonight I'll be reading the 1995 essay by Umberto Ecco, "Ur-Fascism." I've read it before and I will undoubtedly read it again. I recommend it to all.
www.nybooks.com/articles/199...
www.nybooks.com/articles/199...
Reposted by Dean Barker
This is a roughly 7% shift toward Democrats compared to 2024; they needed a touch more to win the race — pending AP call and confirmation there's nothing left.
January 7, 2026 at 2:06 AM
This is a roughly 7% shift toward Democrats compared to 2024; they needed a touch more to win the race — pending AP call and confirmation there's nothing left.
Reposted by Dean Barker
“.. Residents described being pulled over, questioned and forced to hand over their phones. ..
“.. armed men scrolled through their messages and social media, looking for anything that could be construed as support for the U.S. raid.”
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
“.. armed men scrolled through their messages and social media, looking for anything that could be construed as support for the U.S. raid.”
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
January 7, 2026 at 12:22 AM
“.. Residents described being pulled over, questioned and forced to hand over their phones. ..
“.. armed men scrolled through their messages and social media, looking for anything that could be construed as support for the U.S. raid.”
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
“.. armed men scrolled through their messages and social media, looking for anything that could be construed as support for the U.S. raid.”
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
Reposted by Dean Barker
Speechless
There is a particular kind of momentary existential shock in a world that has wholly inverted values
There is a particular kind of momentary existential shock in a world that has wholly inverted values
Here's the clip of Tony Dokoupil ending tonight's broadcast by absolutely gushing over "ultimate Florida Man" Marco Rubio.
January 7, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Speechless
There is a particular kind of momentary existential shock in a world that has wholly inverted values
There is a particular kind of momentary existential shock in a world that has wholly inverted values
Reposted by Dean Barker
The violent mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6 was not peaceful.
Stop lying to the American people.
Stop lying to the American people.
January 7, 2026 at 1:54 AM
The violent mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6 was not peaceful.
Stop lying to the American people.
Stop lying to the American people.
Reposted by Dean Barker
Giving You The Best That I Got (Anita Baker)
January 7, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Giving You The Best That I Got (Anita Baker)
Reposted by Dean Barker
Grammy Award-winning bluegrass performer Béla Fleck canceled an upcoming performance at the Kennedy Center, saying the venue has become too politically charged after a series of recent changes at the storied venue championed by President Donald Trump.
Grammy-Winning Bluegrass Musician Cancels Kennedy Center Show
Béla Fleck is one of nearly a dozen performers who have canceled their appearances at the storied arts venue in recent weeks.
www.notus.org
January 7, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Grammy Award-winning bluegrass performer Béla Fleck canceled an upcoming performance at the Kennedy Center, saying the venue has become too politically charged after a series of recent changes at the storied venue championed by President Donald Trump.
Reposted by Dean Barker
H.R.6925
To require the removal of any signage or other ...
SPONSOR: @repaprildelaney.bsky.social
№ CO-SPONSORS: 3
STATUS: Introduced
LATEST ACTION: House floor - 2025-12-23 Referred to the House Committee on ...
#Democrats
Details at congress.gov
To require the removal of any signage or other ...
SPONSOR: @repaprildelaney.bsky.social
№ CO-SPONSORS: 3
STATUS: Introduced
LATEST ACTION: House floor - 2025-12-23 Referred to the House Committee on ...
#Democrats
Details at congress.gov
January 6, 2026 at 10:00 PM
H.R.6925
To require the removal of any signage or other ...
SPONSOR: @repaprildelaney.bsky.social
№ CO-SPONSORS: 3
STATUS: Introduced
LATEST ACTION: House floor - 2025-12-23 Referred to the House Committee on ...
#Democrats
Details at congress.gov
To require the removal of any signage or other ...
SPONSOR: @repaprildelaney.bsky.social
№ CO-SPONSORS: 3
STATUS: Introduced
LATEST ACTION: House floor - 2025-12-23 Referred to the House Committee on ...
#Democrats
Details at congress.gov
Reposted by Dean Barker
I keep looking at this stunning head. A diety, but who? Could be Buddhist or Hindu, looks Buddhist, could also be modeled on a head of state. The Art Institute of Chicago does not say. Need to learn about Cambodian/Khmer sculpture, 11thc.
Head of a Male Deity (Deva) https://www.artic.edu/artworks/11504/
January 7, 2026 at 1:16 AM
I keep looking at this stunning head. A diety, but who? Could be Buddhist or Hindu, looks Buddhist, could also be modeled on a head of state. The Art Institute of Chicago does not say. Need to learn about Cambodian/Khmer sculpture, 11thc.
Reposted by Dean Barker
Democrat Sonja Ogletree Satani has now pulled into the lead in this very close South Carolina race.
www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/Dorcheste...
www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/Dorcheste...
January 7, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Democrat Sonja Ogletree Satani has now pulled into the lead in this very close South Carolina race.
www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/Dorcheste...
www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/Dorcheste...
Reposted by Dean Barker
ICYMI: Texas A&M admin is requiring a faculty member to either remove *Plato* from their syllabus for being too woke
or
be reassigned to teach “Ethics for Engineers” at 8am
or
be reassigned to teach “Ethics for Engineers” at 8am
From an email to one of our faculty members....
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!
January 7, 2026 at 1:11 AM
ICYMI: Texas A&M admin is requiring a faculty member to either remove *Plato* from their syllabus for being too woke
or
be reassigned to teach “Ethics for Engineers” at 8am
or
be reassigned to teach “Ethics for Engineers” at 8am
Wait, what?
Johnson: U.S. military action in Greenland ‘would not be appropriate’
www.politico.com/live-updates...
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Johnson: U.S. military action in Greenland ‘would not be appropriate’
The speaker's comments came after the Trump administration refused to take military force off the table.
www.politico.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Wait, what?
Stepping in a rhythm to a Kurtis Blow
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
With a hippie-the-hop and a hippie-the-ho,
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCWC...
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
With a hippie-the-hop and a hippie-the-ho,
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCWC...
January 7, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Stepping in a rhythm to a Kurtis Blow
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
With a hippie-the-hop and a hippie-the-ho,
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCWC...
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
With a hippie-the-hop and a hippie-the-ho,
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCWC...
Reposted by Dean Barker
Edwin Lamare's Andantino in D-flat, op.83 no.2, hit of 1888, later remixed as the 1920s hit "Moonlight and Roses" 🌛🥀 youtu.be/lfs3f67x2ts
January 7, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Edwin Lamare's Andantino in D-flat, op.83 no.2, hit of 1888, later remixed as the 1920s hit "Moonlight and Roses" 🌛🥀 youtu.be/lfs3f67x2ts
"Interim Authorities"
"that money will be controlled by me"
"that money will be controlled by me"
“This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America…”
January 7, 2026 at 12:07 AM
"Interim Authorities"
"that money will be controlled by me"
"that money will be controlled by me"
Reposted by Dean Barker
Heard some Steely Dan in a film recently, then this Donald Fagen number popped up in my head.
Donald Fagen – New Frontier (Official Video) [HD Remastered]
YouTube video by Donald Fagen
youtu.be
January 7, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Heard some Steely Dan in a film recently, then this Donald Fagen number popped up in my head.
Reposted by Dean Barker
Reposted by Dean Barker
On January 5th, President Biden was seen leaving Tatiana Schlossberg's funeral. The service was held at The Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, in New York's Upper East Side.
January 6, 2026 at 4:00 AM
On January 5th, President Biden was seen leaving Tatiana Schlossberg's funeral. The service was held at The Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, in New York's Upper East Side.
Have listened to the Act 1 Prelude for Lohengrin, what, four times today?
(Composer doesn't get any less problematic with each listen, but the music...hoo boy.)
app.idagio.com/albums/wagne...
(Composer doesn't get any less problematic with each listen, but the music...hoo boy.)
app.idagio.com/albums/wagne...
Wagner: Overtures and Preludes | Stream on IDAGIO
Listen to Wagner: Overtures and Preludes by Karl Böhm, Otto Gerdes, Rafael Kubelík, Eugen Jochum, Herbert von Karajan, Ingrid Steger, Danica Mastilović, Lilo Brockhaus, Liselotte Rebmann, Barbro Erics...
app.idagio.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Have listened to the Act 1 Prelude for Lohengrin, what, four times today?
(Composer doesn't get any less problematic with each listen, but the music...hoo boy.)
app.idagio.com/albums/wagne...
(Composer doesn't get any less problematic with each listen, but the music...hoo boy.)
app.idagio.com/albums/wagne...
"find a reason"
Trump: "You gotta win the midterms. Because if we don't win the midterms, they'll find a reason to impeach me. I'll get impeached."
January 6, 2026 at 9:55 PM
"find a reason"
Absolute madness. A rogue presidency turning us into a rogue nation.
IF THE GOP LED CONGRESS IS EVER GOING REMEMBER ITS CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, NOW IS THE TIME!
Doing nothing will place us among the villains of the world, ruining our any last remaining goodwill and making us less safe.
IF THE GOP LED CONGRESS IS EVER GOING REMEMBER ITS CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, NOW IS THE TIME!
Doing nothing will place us among the villains of the world, ruining our any last remaining goodwill and making us less safe.
Via Reuters: TRUMP AND HIS TEAM ARE DISCUSSING A RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR ACQUIRING GREENLAND AND 'UTILIZING THE US MILITARY IS ALWAYS AN OPTION'- WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT
January 6, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Absolute madness. A rogue presidency turning us into a rogue nation.
IF THE GOP LED CONGRESS IS EVER GOING REMEMBER ITS CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, NOW IS THE TIME!
Doing nothing will place us among the villains of the world, ruining our any last remaining goodwill and making us less safe.
IF THE GOP LED CONGRESS IS EVER GOING REMEMBER ITS CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, NOW IS THE TIME!
Doing nothing will place us among the villains of the world, ruining our any last remaining goodwill and making us less safe.
So disorienting having a normal human NYC Mayor, and one who actually knows what it's like to live in the city among other normals, besides.
Zohran just went out and fixed the Williamsburg Bridge bike entrance. Just did it. No faffing, no nonsense. Bam. Fixed.
January 6, 2026 at 9:27 PM
So disorienting having a normal human NYC Mayor, and one who actually knows what it's like to live in the city among other normals, besides.
Reposted by Dean Barker
Greenland is happening. Not a joke, not trolling, not a distraction. He has already made up his mind and nobody who matters in the inner circle will try to talk him out of it. Some of them want it precisely because it will destroy NATO. There are no adults in the room. They really mean to do it.
January 6, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Greenland is happening. Not a joke, not trolling, not a distraction. He has already made up his mind and nobody who matters in the inner circle will try to talk him out of it. Some of them want it precisely because it will destroy NATO. There are no adults in the room. They really mean to do it.