Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
@markmadsen.bsky.social
Decision support, design, 30 years of data, architecture, augmenting human analysis, systems, cybernetics, safety, resilience, GOFAI, data cleaning & prep, engineering management, urban planning, botany, history, art, dada
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
I am put through this line of questioning daily
January 16, 2026 at 4:38 AM
I am put through this line of questioning daily
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
New paid doctoral position with the Ptolemaeus Arabus et Latinus project in Munich, for students researching Arabic or Latin texts related to Ptolemy's astronomical or astrological material; dissertation can be in English or German, apply by March 31st. ptolemaeus.badw.de/start #HistSTM #MedievalSky
January 15, 2026 at 5:37 PM
New paid doctoral position with the Ptolemaeus Arabus et Latinus project in Munich, for students researching Arabic or Latin texts related to Ptolemy's astronomical or astrological material; dissertation can be in English or German, apply by March 31st. ptolemaeus.badw.de/start #HistSTM #MedievalSky
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Cancel your Spotify subscription.
In April 2024, Spotify implemented a new scheme: songs with less than 1k streams per year would no longer receive royalties.
The data for 2025 was just released via Luminate, and 88% of songs have been demonetized.
Read it again: 88% of songs on Spotify have been demonetized.
The data for 2025 was just released via Luminate, and 88% of songs have been demonetized.
Read it again: 88% of songs on Spotify have been demonetized.
January 16, 2026 at 5:33 AM
Cancel your Spotify subscription.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Holy hell, what an obituary
Renfrew Christie Dies at 76; Sabotaged Racist Regime’s Nuclear Program
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Holy hell, what an obituary
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
For non-German speakers:
“Dear media, I can’t stand the headline "No agreement between the US and Denmark” any longer. If an armed man storms a bank, you don't run the headline: "Robber and cashier can't reach an agreement on money transfer." Stop framing imperial aggression as normal diplomacy.”
“Dear media, I can’t stand the headline "No agreement between the US and Denmark” any longer. If an armed man storms a bank, you don't run the headline: "Robber and cashier can't reach an agreement on money transfer." Stop framing imperial aggression as normal diplomacy.”
Liebe Medien, ich kann die Schlagzeile "Keine Einigung zwischen USA und Dänemark" nicht mehr sehen. Wenn ein Bewaffneter eine Bank stürmt, titelt ihr doch auch nicht: "Räuber und Kassiererin finden keinen Konsens über Geldübergabe." Hört auf, imperiale Aggression als normale Diplomatie zu framen.
January 15, 2026 at 11:11 AM
For non-German speakers:
“Dear media, I can’t stand the headline "No agreement between the US and Denmark” any longer. If an armed man storms a bank, you don't run the headline: "Robber and cashier can't reach an agreement on money transfer." Stop framing imperial aggression as normal diplomacy.”
“Dear media, I can’t stand the headline "No agreement between the US and Denmark” any longer. If an armed man storms a bank, you don't run the headline: "Robber and cashier can't reach an agreement on money transfer." Stop framing imperial aggression as normal diplomacy.”
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Gavin Newsom has never had a homeless, a working unhoused, or an affordable housing advocate on his podcast despite governing California.
So yeah I think it’s weird that he’s entertained & platformed multiple fascists while grinning, nodding & relenting to their easily defeatable talking points.
So yeah I think it’s weird that he’s entertained & platformed multiple fascists while grinning, nodding & relenting to their easily defeatable talking points.
January 16, 2026 at 5:05 AM
Gavin Newsom has never had a homeless, a working unhoused, or an affordable housing advocate on his podcast despite governing California.
So yeah I think it’s weird that he’s entertained & platformed multiple fascists while grinning, nodding & relenting to their easily defeatable talking points.
So yeah I think it’s weird that he’s entertained & platformed multiple fascists while grinning, nodding & relenting to their easily defeatable talking points.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
If I were a Democrat who wanted to run in 2028 and had even a shred of moral clarity and understanding of where we are at this time in history I'd be salivating at the prospect of running against the podcasting governor who's hosting ben shapiro in the year 2026
very cool!
January 16, 2026 at 3:27 AM
If I were a Democrat who wanted to run in 2028 and had even a shred of moral clarity and understanding of where we are at this time in history I'd be salivating at the prospect of running against the podcasting governor who's hosting ben shapiro in the year 2026
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
As a leader, the way you *encourage* your people to peacefully protest is to get out there on the street with them.
This cannot be done from the protected safety of one’s office.
This cannot be done from the protected safety of one’s office.
January 15, 2026 at 6:28 AM
As a leader, the way you *encourage* your people to peacefully protest is to get out there on the street with them.
This cannot be done from the protected safety of one’s office.
This cannot be done from the protected safety of one’s office.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
What. The. Fuck.
The House voted 341 to 79 to fund Trump's war-mongering foreign policy agenda.
Only 57 Democrats voted NO.
clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/rol...
Only 57 Democrats voted NO.
clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/rol...
January 15, 2026 at 4:16 AM
What. The. Fuck.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
the problem with an untrained secret police squad that shoots people in their cars isn’t that they’re untrained
January 15, 2026 at 1:19 AM
the problem with an untrained secret police squad that shoots people in their cars isn’t that they’re untrained
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
so in 2014 Waffle House released a employee training video that made me fucking lose my mind so here's the important bits in 2 min here's how to Pull Dropmark
March 10, 2025 at 9:26 PM
so in 2014 Waffle House released a employee training video that made me fucking lose my mind so here's the important bits in 2 min here's how to Pull Dropmark
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
the audacity to sit there and talk about safety and family when you are just drenched head to toe in piss
Lmao someone threw an open bottle of piss into an ICE vehicle that was driving by
January 15, 2026 at 5:32 AM
the audacity to sit there and talk about safety and family when you are just drenched head to toe in piss
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
If you hear that a think tank is telling your members of Congress not to say "abolish ICE," here's what you do: contact your members of Congress and tell them that you, a constituent, absolutely do want them to abolish ICE and you wanna hear them say it. Then get your friends to do it too.
January 15, 2026 at 1:20 AM
If you hear that a think tank is telling your members of Congress not to say "abolish ICE," here's what you do: contact your members of Congress and tell them that you, a constituent, absolutely do want them to abolish ICE and you wanna hear them say it. Then get your friends to do it too.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Cancel. Genuinely. Cancel. A rejection at the border is a permanent mark against entry, forever.
If you insist, follow dangerous territory protocols: know your embassy details, make sure someone knows your travel details, and have funds for emergency legal, health, and departure expenditures.
If you insist, follow dangerous territory protocols: know your embassy details, make sure someone knows your travel details, and have funds for emergency legal, health, and departure expenditures.
January 15, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Cancel. Genuinely. Cancel. A rejection at the border is a permanent mark against entry, forever.
If you insist, follow dangerous territory protocols: know your embassy details, make sure someone knows your travel details, and have funds for emergency legal, health, and departure expenditures.
If you insist, follow dangerous territory protocols: know your embassy details, make sure someone knows your travel details, and have funds for emergency legal, health, and departure expenditures.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Seriously. I have issues with how the press handles statements from law enforcement—but this is something else. This admin, this agency, these same officials have constantly lied the whole time, including lying about events on video. It is dishonest for journalists to simply repeat their claims.
WHY are news stations reading DHS statements out loud as if they have ANY credibility at all? They literally murdered a woman in cold blood LAST WEEK and are still lying about what happened, even though we can see what happened. That any credibility would be given to their statement is insane
January 15, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Seriously. I have issues with how the press handles statements from law enforcement—but this is something else. This admin, this agency, these same officials have constantly lied the whole time, including lying about events on video. It is dishonest for journalists to simply repeat their claims.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Look at this long necked mfr
January 15, 2026 at 5:43 AM
Look at this long necked mfr
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
The national level neoliberal old guard is as dangerous as the fascist movement, and in many ways more so because they are willing to lie about what they are, where the fascist are at least honest they are corrupt anti-Democratic totalitarians.
January 12, 2026 at 4:24 PM
The national level neoliberal old guard is as dangerous as the fascist movement, and in many ways more so because they are willing to lie about what they are, where the fascist are at least honest they are corrupt anti-Democratic totalitarians.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
it does look as if the US now no longer has a functioning constitution or justice system, merely powers of the king
The Supreme Court sets aside lower court decisions upholding convictions for bribery related to the FIFA scandal because the Trump administration decided to dismiss those criminal cases "in the interests of justice." The FIFA prosecution ends in a whimper. www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
January 12, 2026 at 4:24 PM
it does look as if the US now no longer has a functioning constitution or justice system, merely powers of the king
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Day 12 of #365DaysOfMaps. January 12th is Curried Chicken Day. Pretty much every day is a great day for a curry but if you're struggling for ideas for dinner then this is your reason.
Curries of India 12/365
mapdesign.icaci.org/2026/01/happ...
Curries of India 12/365
mapdesign.icaci.org/2026/01/happ...
January 12, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Day 12 of #365DaysOfMaps. January 12th is Curried Chicken Day. Pretty much every day is a great day for a curry but if you're struggling for ideas for dinner then this is your reason.
Curries of India 12/365
mapdesign.icaci.org/2026/01/happ...
Curries of India 12/365
mapdesign.icaci.org/2026/01/happ...
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
This is a wild hill to die on for someone who creates environments for kids.
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games (Fortnite/Battle Royale) argues against CP protections on social media/AI platforms, claiming legislators are ‘just censoring political opponents’.
www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indus...
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games (Fortnite/Battle Royale) argues against CP protections on social media/AI platforms, claiming legislators are ‘just censoring political opponents’.
www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indus...
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney argues banning Twitter over its ability to AI-generate pornographic images of minors is just 'gatekeepers' attempting to 'censor all of their political opponents'
Not the hill I'd die on, but I'm not a billionaire.
www.pcgamer.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:53 PM
This is a wild hill to die on for someone who creates environments for kids.
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games (Fortnite/Battle Royale) argues against CP protections on social media/AI platforms, claiming legislators are ‘just censoring political opponents’.
www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indus...
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games (Fortnite/Battle Royale) argues against CP protections on social media/AI platforms, claiming legislators are ‘just censoring political opponents’.
www.pcgamer.com/gaming-indus...
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
For the last two years I've been teaching an online course about birding and data visualization.
It's a course about noticing. About learning to be critical about data. About incubating and encouraging environmental care.
www.jerthorp.me/learning
It's a course about noticing. About learning to be critical about data. About incubating and encouraging environmental care.
www.jerthorp.me/learning
January 6, 2026 at 3:56 PM
For the last two years I've been teaching an online course about birding and data visualization.
It's a course about noticing. About learning to be critical about data. About incubating and encouraging environmental care.
www.jerthorp.me/learning
It's a course about noticing. About learning to be critical about data. About incubating and encouraging environmental care.
www.jerthorp.me/learning
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
NEW: It appears billionaire Bill Ackman has donated $10k to a GoFundMe for Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who killed Renee Good.
Ackman has reposted the fundraiser but hasn’t posted about his own donation.
Ackman has reposted the fundraiser but hasn’t posted about his own donation.
January 11, 2026 at 1:02 PM
NEW: It appears billionaire Bill Ackman has donated $10k to a GoFundMe for Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who killed Renee Good.
Ackman has reposted the fundraiser but hasn’t posted about his own donation.
Ackman has reposted the fundraiser but hasn’t posted about his own donation.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
American exceptionalism is real, and bad for most people's pocketbook, ability to raise a family, health and freedoms.
From @adambonica.bsky.social, who asks what would America look like if we matched up with OECD country averages.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
From @adambonica.bsky.social, who asks what would America look like if we matched up with OECD country averages.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
January 11, 2026 at 7:27 PM
American exceptionalism is real, and bad for most people's pocketbook, ability to raise a family, health and freedoms.
From @adambonica.bsky.social, who asks what would America look like if we matched up with OECD country averages.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
From @adambonica.bsky.social, who asks what would America look like if we matched up with OECD country averages.
substack.com/home/post/p-...