Bodie A. Ashton
@manwithoutatan.bsky.social
historian | pet shop boys fanatic | australian in germany | very bisexual | constantly podcasting | "oh, dr. bodie!" per jordan gray | they/them | latest book: “the pet shop boys and the political”
I know it's a minor point but does anyone who has ever heard Trump speak ever think that he's a good/funny/inspiring public speaker? Like genuinely?
February 19, 2026 at 4:04 PM
I know it's a minor point but does anyone who has ever heard Trump speak ever think that he's a good/funny/inspiring public speaker? Like genuinely?
Continuing to see ads for ChatGPT wanting to make profile pictures and I honestly cannot understand why anyone could be *so* gullible and irresponsible that they would take them up on it. And yet.
February 19, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Continuing to see ads for ChatGPT wanting to make profile pictures and I honestly cannot understand why anyone could be *so* gullible and irresponsible that they would take them up on it. And yet.
Okay chat, hold me to this please: today I want to okay some chapter proofs, send edits for another chapter, and continue writing The Book.
But first coffee.
But first coffee.
February 19, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Okay chat, hold me to this please: today I want to okay some chapter proofs, send edits for another chapter, and continue writing The Book.
But first coffee.
But first coffee.
“Your coup was awful but on the other hand you were incredibly incompetent doing it” is a pretty devastating way to explain to someone how they avoided capital punishment ngl
The judge noted that Yoon took the lead in planning the insurrection, caused immense social costs, showed no remorse, and failed to participate in the trial faithfully. The court acknowledged as mitigating factors that he refrained from using physical force and that the planning was not meticulous.
February 19, 2026 at 7:07 AM
“Your coup was awful but on the other hand you were incredibly incompetent doing it” is a pretty devastating way to explain to someone how they avoided capital punishment ngl
Nah I’m good thanks.
is there a technology that "the left" is excited about?
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
The left is missing out on AI
As a movement, it has largely refused to engage seriously with AI, ceding debate about a threat and opportunity to the right
www.transformernews.ai
February 18, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Nah I’m good thanks.
“X is Versailles”, says @adriandaub.bsky.social, and I’m so furious at how correct but how heinous that analogy is.
February 17, 2026 at 6:23 PM
“X is Versailles”, says @adriandaub.bsky.social, and I’m so furious at how correct but how heinous that analogy is.
On Sundays we rainbow.
February 15, 2026 at 1:33 PM
On Sundays we rainbow.
This is of course by design. It’s a ploy that works because it exploits the impulse to be community-spirited and help those in need. In the short term it will lead to “detentions”; in the long term, the aim is to make you so fearful and distrustful of anyone that it destroys community.
Between this and the story about the ice agents who ate at a Mexican restaurant and then arrested some of its workers when they were done, it's a reminder that these people reject even the most basic social agreements of hospitality and of helping others. They're sociopaths.
CCTV footage appears to show DHS agents posing as people having car trouble in order to lure a target out of his house before arresting them. The target comes out and starts helping them before 3 vehicles surround the scene. The car "experiencing" trouble then drives off with them.
February 15, 2026 at 9:57 AM
This is of course by design. It’s a ploy that works because it exploits the impulse to be community-spirited and help those in need. In the short term it will lead to “detentions”; in the long term, the aim is to make you so fearful and distrustful of anyone that it destroys community.
I look tired and a bit disheveled these days. And the grey is once again creeping in at the sides. But hi there everyone. We’re still here.
February 14, 2026 at 4:02 PM
I look tired and a bit disheveled these days. And the grey is once again creeping in at the sides. But hi there everyone. We’re still here.
Reposted by Bodie A. Ashton
Brilliant FAQ from @goodlawproject.bsky.social to go with their ongoing vital work - please read it, share it, and remember that trans people aren't going anywhere. We're in this fight to win it, however long it takes.
Here are our FAQs on what the High Court's judgment means. goodlawproject.org/resource/faq...
FAQ: Trans inclusion after the High Court decision on the EHRC’s interim guidance | Good Law Project
An explanation of where things stand for services and workplaces
goodlawproject.org
February 13, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Brilliant FAQ from @goodlawproject.bsky.social to go with their ongoing vital work - please read it, share it, and remember that trans people aren't going anywhere. We're in this fight to win it, however long it takes.
New reason not to travel to the United States just dropped, along with literally every other reason: being lasered out of the sky because of some border patrol dipshit.
oh so just dumb luck these idiots didn’t shoot down a passenger aircraft
According to multiple NYT sources, it wasn’t even military personnel at Fort Bliss that fired an anti-drone laser at alleged cartel drones. It was CBP who used the weapon on loan from DoD against a child’s party balloon they mistook for a drone. The Pentagon gave CBP an anti-aircraft weapon.
February 12, 2026 at 1:05 PM
New reason not to travel to the United States just dropped, along with literally every other reason: being lasered out of the sky because of some border patrol dipshit.
Okay, what do I need to do today? Editing; editing; writing rejoinders for a grant application; book drafting? At least the first three are urgent so, of course, I really want to do the fourth. Also I'm impossibly tired. So maybe I'll do none of them.
February 12, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Okay, what do I need to do today? Editing; editing; writing rejoinders for a grant application; book drafting? At least the first three are urgent so, of course, I really want to do the fourth. Also I'm impossibly tired. So maybe I'll do none of them.
It isn’t hard for the models to understand themselves; it’s impossible, as they don’t “understand” anything in any meaningful sense.
Glad to know that this “philosopher” is happy to take the money of the Giant Plagiarism Company in order to spout meaningless bullshit such as this.
Glad to know that this “philosopher” is happy to take the money of the Giant Plagiarism Company in order to spout meaningless bullshit such as this.
Researchers working with the A.I. system Claude have come to understand that the model’s selfhood, like our own, is a matter of both neurons and narratives. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/kEX1vV
February 11, 2026 at 7:46 AM
It isn’t hard for the models to understand themselves; it’s impossible, as they don’t “understand” anything in any meaningful sense.
Glad to know that this “philosopher” is happy to take the money of the Giant Plagiarism Company in order to spout meaningless bullshit such as this.
Glad to know that this “philosopher” is happy to take the money of the Giant Plagiarism Company in order to spout meaningless bullshit such as this.
Reposted by Bodie A. Ashton
Over 28 years, 140 people died at the Berlin Wall from all causes (intentional shooting, drowning, accidents, etc.). #comparativeborderregimes
This is the 38th time that the U.S. military has unlawfully killed civilians on the orders of Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump. At least 130 people — never charged with crimes, their identities unknown to their executioners — are now dead.
We are murdering people and it is basically just background noise at this point. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/u...
February 10, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Over 28 years, 140 people died at the Berlin Wall from all causes (intentional shooting, drowning, accidents, etc.). #comparativeborderregimes
Reposted by Bodie A. Ashton
Age verification and social media bans are explicitly ways to isolate queer, neurodivergent, and abused kids.
"Don't worry about the Discord thing, it's only NSFW servers and channels that will require age verification! :)"
I could remove every speck of risque imagery/topics from my community and there's still a 50% chance we'd get flagged just because we're openly queer.
It's not actually about the kids.
I could remove every speck of risque imagery/topics from my community and there's still a 50% chance we'd get flagged just because we're openly queer.
It's not actually about the kids.
February 10, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Age verification and social media bans are explicitly ways to isolate queer, neurodivergent, and abused kids.
My Guardian puff piece declaring that I didn’t even really know the corrupt close pal of the international child trafficker is raising a lot of questions answered by my Guardian puff piece declaring that I didn’t even really know the corrupt close pal of the international child trafficker.
It’s practically a work of art that he thinks we’re all that stupid.
February 9, 2026 at 11:10 PM
My Guardian puff piece declaring that I didn’t even really know the corrupt close pal of the international child trafficker is raising a lot of questions answered by my Guardian puff piece declaring that I didn’t even really know the corrupt close pal of the international child trafficker.
Reposted by Bodie A. Ashton
no, i won't be watching the bad bunny super bowl halftime show.
no, i won't be watching the kid rock turning points usa halftime show.
i'll be too busy watching the marxist extravaganza halftime show, featuring an ai hologram of hegel singing imagine dragons' greatest hits.
no, i won't be watching the kid rock turning points usa halftime show.
i'll be too busy watching the marxist extravaganza halftime show, featuring an ai hologram of hegel singing imagine dragons' greatest hits.
February 8, 2026 at 11:36 PM
no, i won't be watching the bad bunny super bowl halftime show.
no, i won't be watching the kid rock turning points usa halftime show.
i'll be too busy watching the marxist extravaganza halftime show, featuring an ai hologram of hegel singing imagine dragons' greatest hits.
no, i won't be watching the kid rock turning points usa halftime show.
i'll be too busy watching the marxist extravaganza halftime show, featuring an ai hologram of hegel singing imagine dragons' greatest hits.
Every time the Swiss curler yells “curl!”, it’s close enough to “Girl” that my cat Bucky—who often gets the nickname “Miss Girl”—perks up and meows. She’s getting very confused by this point.
February 8, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Every time the Swiss curler yells “curl!”, it’s close enough to “Girl” that my cat Bucky—who often gets the nickname “Miss Girl”—perks up and meows. She’s getting very confused by this point.
I saw someone complaining that it’s a scandal that the German Olympics broadcaster didn’t get expert commentators for whichever sport, and instead just got whoever, and as an Australian I seriously wonder if introducing German viewers to Basil Zempilas or James Brayshaw.
February 8, 2026 at 9:02 PM
I saw someone complaining that it’s a scandal that the German Olympics broadcaster didn’t get expert commentators for whichever sport, and instead just got whoever, and as an Australian I seriously wonder if introducing German viewers to Basil Zempilas or James Brayshaw.
Reposted by Bodie A. Ashton
ok this is a lot. even for me.
Bill Ackman's fund, Pershing Square, manages 18 billion dollars for wealthy clients, billions of it for the Harvard Endowment
Anyways here he is uncritically eating up conspiracy slop from Naomi Wolf about stolen NYC elections
Anyways here he is uncritically eating up conspiracy slop from Naomi Wolf about stolen NYC elections
February 8, 2026 at 7:28 AM
ok this is a lot. even for me.
Reposted by Bodie A. Ashton
The radical and unrealistic position of "no concentration camps"
The reasonable moderate position of "some concentration camps in certain circumstances"
The reasonable moderate position of "some concentration camps in certain circumstances"
February 8, 2026 at 4:58 AM
The radical and unrealistic position of "no concentration camps"
The reasonable moderate position of "some concentration camps in certain circumstances"
The reasonable moderate position of "some concentration camps in certain circumstances"
THE STARFLEET ACADEMY COFFEE SHOP USES CHEMEXES
February 7, 2026 at 8:36 PM
THE STARFLEET ACADEMY COFFEE SHOP USES CHEMEXES
Not the Olympics but my favourite was this very simple gem from Aussie Rules football:
“Ahh yes, it looks like he’s got a groin.”
“Ahh yes, it looks like he’s got a groin.”
Sports commentators really do talk nonsense.
"In the moment, you're really looking out of your eyes."
"You find that your brain is thinking a lot."
"You can tell by his face that he wants to win."
"If it hadn't been for [the fastest skier], he would have had the fastest time."
#olympics
"In the moment, you're really looking out of your eyes."
"You find that your brain is thinking a lot."
"You can tell by his face that he wants to win."
"If it hadn't been for [the fastest skier], he would have had the fastest time."
#olympics
February 7, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Not the Olympics but my favourite was this very simple gem from Aussie Rules football:
“Ahh yes, it looks like he’s got a groin.”
“Ahh yes, it looks like he’s got a groin.”
Sorry for the earnest posting, all, but: in a bit less than two months I'll be unemployed. It's not the case of "I'll just pick up something"; it's that Germany's frankly absurd law governing academic contracts means that I've now timed out. I can't be extended. 1/
February 7, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Sorry for the earnest posting, all, but: in a bit less than two months I'll be unemployed. It's not the case of "I'll just pick up something"; it's that Germany's frankly absurd law governing academic contracts means that I've now timed out. I can't be extended. 1/