Kevin Cantú
@killerswan.bsky.social
I occasionally say interesting things.
they / them 🏳️⚧️
Berkeley, CA
they / them 🏳️⚧️
Berkeley, CA
Pinned
Kevin Cantú
@killerswan.bsky.social
· Nov 6
![6/27/16
"The future is not a straight line. It is filled with many crossroads.
There must be a future that we can choose for ourselves." [Akira]
against totalitarianism, against fatalism, against jealousy: love
amidst chaos: the admission that things are out of control
empathy to the very end](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xvgvrz37sybdzkl3bom5c4wh/bafkreigp5lrawstmohll6yhilkyo7lt4memnockmedvxsahnbrkupjx6bm@jpeg)
my firmest belief?
"The future is not a straight line. It is filled with many crossroads. There must be a future that we can choose for ourselves."
against totalitarianism, against fatalism, against jealousy: love
amidst chaos: the admission that things are out of control
empathy to the very end
"The future is not a straight line. It is filled with many crossroads. There must be a future that we can choose for ourselves."
against totalitarianism, against fatalism, against jealousy: love
amidst chaos: the admission that things are out of control
empathy to the very end
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
It was transforming the biggest NFL stage in the world into a sugar cane plantation that did it for me.
Like, the multiple layers of turning an American icon into a plantation and highlighting the history of exploitation of Black and Brown bodies by the NFL and American colonialism simultaneously?
Like, the multiple layers of turning an American icon into a plantation and highlighting the history of exploitation of Black and Brown bodies by the NFL and American colonialism simultaneously?
February 9, 2026 at 1:54 AM
It was transforming the biggest NFL stage in the world into a sugar cane plantation that did it for me.
Like, the multiple layers of turning an American icon into a plantation and highlighting the history of exploitation of Black and Brown bodies by the NFL and American colonialism simultaneously?
Like, the multiple layers of turning an American icon into a plantation and highlighting the history of exploitation of Black and Brown bodies by the NFL and American colonialism simultaneously?
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
That ring missing dog ad is so insidious
February 9, 2026 at 2:07 AM
That ring missing dog ad is so insidious
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
BREAKING: The Epstein survivors are releasing this ad on this Super Bowl Sunday to send the message that they will not “move on” from the largest sex trafficking scandal in the world. #standwithsurvivors
February 8, 2026 at 5:07 PM
BREAKING: The Epstein survivors are releasing this ad on this Super Bowl Sunday to send the message that they will not “move on” from the largest sex trafficking scandal in the world. #standwithsurvivors
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
Apparently it's #SuperbOwl day, so here's a superb owl in ink I did a few years ago #owl #ink #SciArt
February 8, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Apparently it's #SuperbOwl day, so here's a superb owl in ink I did a few years ago #owl #ink #SciArt
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
Concentration camps:
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
Exclusive: Detention Center Captives Are Throwing Lotion Bottles Wrapped With Notes to Organizers Outside Otay Mesa Facility ~ L.A. TACO
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh," an Otay Mesa captive communicated through handwritten note. "We are all in one big room with no doors...
lataco.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Concentration camps:
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
Let's be clear about what this is.
It's not a detention facility. It's a concentration camp.
It's not a detention facility. It's a concentration camp.
February 8, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Let's be clear about what this is.
It's not a detention facility. It's a concentration camp.
It's not a detention facility. It's a concentration camp.
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
"greatest thing than sliced bread" is a capitalist slogan. Factory-sliced bread is preventing you from living the life of a god: cutting a loaf the long way to make a mightier sandwich.
February 8, 2026 at 3:31 AM
"greatest thing than sliced bread" is a capitalist slogan. Factory-sliced bread is preventing you from living the life of a god: cutting a loaf the long way to make a mightier sandwich.
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
GOP failed to flip ANY Dem district in 2025 (Dems flipped a lot), & none in 2026 so far. This was as clear an opening as you can imagine. Big blow to Rs.
This was one of the 20 races I identified as important to watch in February.
Details: boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
This was one of the 20 races I identified as important to watch in February.
Details: boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
The 20 Elections to Watch This February - Bolts
Democrats hold the narrowest of majorities in Maine and Pennsylvania’s state Houses. They now need to defend vacant seats to retain their edge in each through the end of the... Read More
boltsmag.org
February 8, 2026 at 3:20 AM
GOP failed to flip ANY Dem district in 2025 (Dems flipped a lot), & none in 2026 so far. This was as clear an opening as you can imagine. Big blow to Rs.
This was one of the 20 races I identified as important to watch in February.
Details: boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
This was one of the 20 races I identified as important to watch in February.
Details: boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
listen it’s great to criticize ICE
but frankly when have the legit Delta Force folks done anything good for the world either?
they’re heroic individuals, I have no doubt! but we use them for totally bullshit assassinations and kidnapping! maybe no one should dress like them or even be them
but frankly when have the legit Delta Force folks done anything good for the world either?
they’re heroic individuals, I have no doubt! but we use them for totally bullshit assassinations and kidnapping! maybe no one should dress like them or even be them
February 8, 2026 at 3:22 AM
listen it’s great to criticize ICE
but frankly when have the legit Delta Force folks done anything good for the world either?
they’re heroic individuals, I have no doubt! but we use them for totally bullshit assassinations and kidnapping! maybe no one should dress like them or even be them
but frankly when have the legit Delta Force folks done anything good for the world either?
they’re heroic individuals, I have no doubt! but we use them for totally bullshit assassinations and kidnapping! maybe no one should dress like them or even be them
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
As a sociology major, I would just like to say: LOLSOB
I do want to shout-out my fellow sociologists, who have collectively created a discipline so woke that not a single one of our introductory textbooks can make it past Florida's censors.
Great work everyone.
Great work everyone.
February 7, 2026 at 5:52 PM
As a sociology major, I would just like to say: LOLSOB
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
This is the end goal of anyone who wants to eliminate "politics" from discourse where they don't deem it "appropriate."
Erasure of history, erasure of current facts.
Erasure of history, erasure of current facts.
I cannot sufficiently underline how despicable it is that the IOC has required Haitian Olympic athletes to remove an image representing the leader of the Haitian Revolution (against SLAVERY) from their uniforms.
February 6, 2026 at 11:56 PM
This is the end goal of anyone who wants to eliminate "politics" from discourse where they don't deem it "appropriate."
Erasure of history, erasure of current facts.
Erasure of history, erasure of current facts.
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
Happy #BlackHistoryMonth !
Feb 7: "High crime" neighborhoods
There is no such thing as a high crime neighborhood.
Seriously.
Read the whole linked thread.
Feb 7: "High crime" neighborhoods
There is no such thing as a high crime neighborhood.
Seriously.
Read the whole linked thread.
mekka okereke :verified: (@mekkaokereke@hachyderm.io)
Happy #BlackHistoryMonth !
Not ready to talk about Black History. Still talking about white US history.
Q: Why are Black neighborhoods so often high crime neighborhoods? Must be a lawless people! Vi...
hachyderm.io
February 7, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Happy #BlackHistoryMonth !
Feb 7: "High crime" neighborhoods
There is no such thing as a high crime neighborhood.
Seriously.
Read the whole linked thread.
Feb 7: "High crime" neighborhoods
There is no such thing as a high crime neighborhood.
Seriously.
Read the whole linked thread.
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
Reading the Appleby report in 2024, it was clear how subjective and opinionated it was.
To rebuke what @goodlawproject.org and @wearequeeraf.com were reporting it said that the data wasn't concrete enough - but, that didn't capture the nuance of our journalism.
www.wearequeeraf.com/attempt-to-c...
To rebuke what @goodlawproject.org and @wearequeeraf.com were reporting it said that the data wasn't concrete enough - but, that didn't capture the nuance of our journalism.
www.wearequeeraf.com/attempt-to-c...
Attempt to cover up "explosion" of trans youth suicides on NHS waiting lists
NHS England faces accusations of an institutional attempt to cover up a rising number of deaths among transgender youth waiting for its care in order to protect its reputation and because "it is polit...
www.wearequeeraf.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Reading the Appleby report in 2024, it was clear how subjective and opinionated it was.
To rebuke what @goodlawproject.org and @wearequeeraf.com were reporting it said that the data wasn't concrete enough - but, that didn't capture the nuance of our journalism.
www.wearequeeraf.com/attempt-to-c...
To rebuke what @goodlawproject.org and @wearequeeraf.com were reporting it said that the data wasn't concrete enough - but, that didn't capture the nuance of our journalism.
www.wearequeeraf.com/attempt-to-c...
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
as expected, this fixed me within 45 seconds
February 7, 2026 at 4:33 AM
as expected, this fixed me within 45 seconds
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
I use a lot of artwork to illustrate my blog posts, when I don't have a photo I've taken that works. Accredited as often as possible. Soooo much better than AI. This looks like a great resource...
Regarding the Discourse, lemme just say that if you can't draw, yes you can.
Everyone can draw, and folks will almost certainly respond more positively to your stick figures than some generic "A.i." slop.
Also, there are LOADS of resources for free images. Like this! 🧵
www.nga.gov/artworks/fre...
Everyone can draw, and folks will almost certainly respond more positively to your stick figures than some generic "A.i." slop.
Also, there are LOADS of resources for free images. Like this! 🧵
www.nga.gov/artworks/fre...
Free Images and Open Access | National Gallery of Art
Free open access image downloads are now available directly from the object pages located on this website. Close to 60,000 images are available for download, and we will continue to add more images fo...
www.nga.gov
February 7, 2026 at 4:12 AM
I use a lot of artwork to illustrate my blog posts, when I don't have a photo I've taken that works. Accredited as often as possible. Soooo much better than AI. This looks like a great resource...
I think AI bros don’t understand what the best art is made of
maybe artists do valorize pen-to-paper tech too much
but replacing the physical labor of artists is not going to bring you an AI who’s capable of the literate, intellectual, emotional labor artists do that takes lifetimes to develop
maybe artists do valorize pen-to-paper tech too much
but replacing the physical labor of artists is not going to bring you an AI who’s capable of the literate, intellectual, emotional labor artists do that takes lifetimes to develop
the other greatest art I’ve stumbled across this weekend is Goya
track back from Yue Minjun’s Excecution to Manet’s to Goya’s Third of May 1808 to plate 2 of Goya’s posthumously published Disasters of War
track back from Yue Minjun’s Excecution to Manet’s to Goya’s Third of May 1808 to plate 2 of Goya’s posthumously published Disasters of War
February 6, 2026 at 9:39 PM
I think AI bros don’t understand what the best art is made of
maybe artists do valorize pen-to-paper tech too much
but replacing the physical labor of artists is not going to bring you an AI who’s capable of the literate, intellectual, emotional labor artists do that takes lifetimes to develop
maybe artists do valorize pen-to-paper tech too much
but replacing the physical labor of artists is not going to bring you an AI who’s capable of the literate, intellectual, emotional labor artists do that takes lifetimes to develop
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
The full clip, including McKellen's setup of the scene, is here, along with info about the riots (Evil May Day) and the text of the speech itself. kottke.org/26/02/the-st...
The Strangers’ Case
I don’t normally say this, but if you watch one thing on kottke.org today, this week, this month, make it this speech written by Shakespeare and performed by
kottke.org
February 5, 2026 at 3:01 PM
The full clip, including McKellen's setup of the scene, is here, along with info about the riots (Evil May Day) and the text of the speech itself. kottke.org/26/02/the-st...
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
Context: this speech is from SIR THOMAS MORE, a history written, as near as scholars can tell, in the early 1600s by 6 or 7 people including Dekker, Heywood, Chettle, Shakespeare, and Munday.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Context: this speech is from SIR THOMAS MORE, a history written, as near as scholars can tell, in the early 1600s by 6 or 7 people including Dekker, Heywood, Chettle, Shakespeare, and Munday.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) tells reporters the Epstein files contain allegations that President Trump raped and threatened to kill children.
February 6, 2026 at 1:46 AM
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) tells reporters the Epstein files contain allegations that President Trump raped and threatened to kill children.
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
Nostalgia was once thought of as a mental illness. The desire to live in a fantasy of the past is pathological. These people and their fantasies of a white supremacist world where taking children is acceptable are pathological. That’s as deep as it gets.
February 5, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Nostalgia was once thought of as a mental illness. The desire to live in a fantasy of the past is pathological. These people and their fantasies of a white supremacist world where taking children is acceptable are pathological. That’s as deep as it gets.
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
Their attempts to shift the goalposts on this is the same attempt racists are making to evict swathes of people admitted into the category of the human after centuries of colonialism and slavery. We do not have to stand for this shit. We hold the ground on what is normal and socially acceptable.
February 5, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Their attempts to shift the goalposts on this is the same attempt racists are making to evict swathes of people admitted into the category of the human after centuries of colonialism and slavery. We do not have to stand for this shit. We hold the ground on what is normal and socially acceptable.
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
"It looks like it's been hosed down with Pepto Bismo"
This sounds like a good offer until you click on the Airbnb description, which reads as though it's been written by a serial killer
February 5, 2026 at 9:22 PM
"It looks like it's been hosed down with Pepto Bismo"
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
Reposted by Kevin Cantú
American academia is *full* of people who think rape is not that big of a deal. esp of young women and girls.
February 5, 2026 at 6:24 AM
American academia is *full* of people who think rape is not that big of a deal. esp of young women and girls.