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)
It’s almost like green energy is the only way forward and a handful of oil barons are doing everything in their power to keep that from happening so they can get even richer at the cost of literally everything else in the world.
Wall Street’s biggest banks made more money financing green projects than they did from working with fossil fuel companies for a fourth straight year, even as they faced ongoing pressure to pull back from the business
Banks Notch Higher Fees From Green Bonds Than Fossil Fuel Debt
Wall Street’s biggest banks made more money financing green projects than they did from working with fossil fuel companies for a fourth straight year, even as they faced ongoing pressure to pull back from the business.
bloom.bg
January 3, 2026 at 3:00 AM
It’s almost like green energy is the only way forward and a handful of oil barons are doing everything in their power to keep that from happening so they can get even richer at the cost of literally everything else in the world.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
As I and others have written, algorithmic wage discrimination combined with the myth of “independent contracting” allows platform companies to use “desperation scores” to determine how little to pay drivers.
www.reddit.com/r/confession...
www.reddit.com/r/confession...
From the confession community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the confession community
www.reddit.com
January 3, 2026 at 4:01 AM
As I and others have written, algorithmic wage discrimination combined with the myth of “independent contracting” allows platform companies to use “desperation scores” to determine how little to pay drivers.
www.reddit.com/r/confession...
www.reddit.com/r/confession...
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Tech CEOs look and sound like lunatic cult leaders, and tech investors act like cultists. =/
January 3, 2026 at 4:33 AM
Tech CEOs look and sound like lunatic cult leaders, and tech investors act like cultists. =/
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
You gotta stop giving them money. You absolutely don’t need to do crosswords and wordles and shit
In this in-depth interview Billie Jean Sweeney — a former editor at The New York Times — details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, why this was directed from the very top, how some staff pushed back and the immense damage done by the NYT legitimizing bigotry.
'A directive from above': Former NYT editor lays out how the paper pushes anti-trans bigotry
In this in-depth interview, former New York Times editor Billie Jean Sweeney details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, how some staff tried to stop it, how it's directe...
transnews.network
January 2, 2026 at 4:15 PM
You gotta stop giving them money. You absolutely don’t need to do crosswords and wordles and shit
We barely made it to the predicted world in time
We have made it to the year 2026, the setting for the Giorgio Moroder version of Metropolis.
January 2, 2026 at 3:18 AM
We barely made it to the predicted world in time
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Okay, might as well get this started.
It's January 1, which means, as I'm sure you all know, that there's a whole new bunch of characters who have entered the public domain. This time around, it's characters created in 1930.
The following is a list of pulp & pulpy characters now in the p.d.
1/
It's January 1, which means, as I'm sure you all know, that there's a whole new bunch of characters who have entered the public domain. This time around, it's characters created in 1930.
The following is a list of pulp & pulpy characters now in the p.d.
1/
January 1, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Okay, might as well get this started.
It's January 1, which means, as I'm sure you all know, that there's a whole new bunch of characters who have entered the public domain. This time around, it's characters created in 1930.
The following is a list of pulp & pulpy characters now in the p.d.
1/
It's January 1, which means, as I'm sure you all know, that there's a whole new bunch of characters who have entered the public domain. This time around, it's characters created in 1930.
The following is a list of pulp & pulpy characters now in the p.d.
1/
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Happy New Year, Bluesky.
January 1, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Happy New Year, Bluesky.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
There’s this muppet on TikTok who transcribes and then scats incredibly difficult jazz solos so well and I could not possibly love a thing more
March 18, 2025 at 1:00 AM
There’s this muppet on TikTok who transcribes and then scats incredibly difficult jazz solos so well and I could not possibly love a thing more
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Resisting him almost always works, trying to bargain with him never ever works
BREAKING: After legal setbacks, President Trump says he's dropping push for the National Guard in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland for now.
Trump says he's dropping push for National Guard in Chicago, LA and Portland, Oregon, for now
President Donald Trump says he’s dropping — for now — his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon.
bit.ly
December 31, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Resisting him almost always works, trying to bargain with him never ever works
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Taxpayers and charities helped develop Zolgensma. Then it debuted at a record price, ushering in a new class of wildly expensive drugs.
Its story upends the widely held conception that high prices reflect huge industry investments in innovation.
(Published February)
Its story upends the widely held conception that high prices reflect huge industry investments in innovation.
(Published February)
What a $2 Million Per Dose Gene Therapy Reveals About Drug Pricing
Taxpayers and charities helped develop Zolgensma. Then it debuted at a record price, ushering in a new class of wildly expensive drugs. Its story upends the widely held conception that high prices ref...
www.propublica.org
December 31, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Taxpayers and charities helped develop Zolgensma. Then it debuted at a record price, ushering in a new class of wildly expensive drugs.
Its story upends the widely held conception that high prices reflect huge industry investments in innovation.
(Published February)
Its story upends the widely held conception that high prices reflect huge industry investments in innovation.
(Published February)
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
- Unsurprisingly, this is also what won Reardon the gig as a Simpsons director - and why his first episode was 'Itchy And Scratchy and Marge'
- My favorite touch, possibly the only subtle one - the imitation of the stiff, awkwardly edited kid's voices youtu.be/3IHVfbQBVp0
- My favorite touch, possibly the only subtle one - the imitation of the stiff, awkwardly edited kid's voices youtu.be/3IHVfbQBVp0
December 31, 2025 at 8:30 PM
- Unsurprisingly, this is also what won Reardon the gig as a Simpsons director - and why his first episode was 'Itchy And Scratchy and Marge'
- My favorite touch, possibly the only subtle one - the imitation of the stiff, awkwardly edited kid's voices youtu.be/3IHVfbQBVp0
- My favorite touch, possibly the only subtle one - the imitation of the stiff, awkwardly edited kid's voices youtu.be/3IHVfbQBVp0
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
great news
New: Cop City RICO Cases Dismissed Years After 61 Activists Charged as Criminal Conspiracy
Racketeering charges against dozens indicted as co-conspirators in the Stop Cop City movement were dismissed yesterday marking a legal victory for the movement
unicornriot.ninja/2025/cop-cit...
Racketeering charges against dozens indicted as co-conspirators in the Stop Cop City movement were dismissed yesterday marking a legal victory for the movement
unicornriot.ninja/2025/cop-cit...
Cop City RICO Cases Dismissed Years After 61 Activists Charged as Criminal Conspiracy - UNICORN RIOT
Atlanta – Racketeering charges against 61 people indicted as co-conspirators in the Stop Cop City movement were dismissed yesterday, marking a significant victory for those facing prosecution in the y...
unicornriot.ninja
December 31, 2025 at 8:35 PM
great news
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
these fucking people. they pass laws to make sure every person with a screw loose who wants an Armalite can show up to the day care armed & ready to kill, then complain that the day cares are locked to protect the children inside
CNN: “Surely you don’t think a daycare should be unlocked.”
SHIRLEY: “There should be a reception area.”
CNN: “No, every day care is locked.”
SHIRLEY: “Fair point.” 🤔
He shows up to a day care with masked men and wonders why they don’t let him in.
SHIRLEY: “There should be a reception area.”
CNN: “No, every day care is locked.”
SHIRLEY: “Fair point.” 🤔
He shows up to a day care with masked men and wonders why they don’t let him in.
December 31, 2025 at 7:29 PM
these fucking people. they pass laws to make sure every person with a screw loose who wants an Armalite can show up to the day care armed & ready to kill, then complain that the day cares are locked to protect the children inside
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
New Year's Eve massacre...
December 31, 2025 at 8:35 PM
New Year's Eve massacre...
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
My friend just sent this and i had to share
December 31, 2025 at 8:26 PM
My friend just sent this and i had to share
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
The final Calvin and Hobbes, which appeared in papers 30 years ago today.
December 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The final Calvin and Hobbes, which appeared in papers 30 years ago today.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
REMEMBER
Feliz Año Nuevo = Happy New Year
Feliz Ano Nuevo = Happy New Butthole
Feliz Año Nuevo = Happy New Year
Feliz Ano Nuevo = Happy New Butthole
December 31, 2025 at 5:40 PM
REMEMBER
Feliz Año Nuevo = Happy New Year
Feliz Ano Nuevo = Happy New Butthole
Feliz Año Nuevo = Happy New Year
Feliz Ano Nuevo = Happy New Butthole
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Oh look, a machine for false advertising designed to defeat any class treatment even without arbitration clauses!
what a shocking turn of events
who could’ve seen this coming
who could’ve seen this coming
OpenAI Reportedly Planning to Make ChatGPT "Prioritize" Advertisers in Conversation
OpenAI employees working on ChatGPT report plans to unleash sponsored advertisements above organic results.
futurism.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Oh look, a machine for false advertising designed to defeat any class treatment even without arbitration clauses!
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
These weren’t all huge hits, but here are my favorite mushrooms of 2025
December 31, 2025 at 5:32 PM
These weren’t all huge hits, but here are my favorite mushrooms of 2025
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
The 12th-century Romanesque nave at Ely Cathedral rarely steals the spotlight (thanks to that lantern tower), but it’s absolutely jaw-dropping
December 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The 12th-century Romanesque nave at Ely Cathedral rarely steals the spotlight (thanks to that lantern tower), but it’s absolutely jaw-dropping
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
I firmly believe that most people are not going to be better than the systems around them. The corollaries are
1. we can and should question the systems around us relentlessly
2. we can be wary of people who don't
1. we can and should question the systems around us relentlessly
2. we can be wary of people who don't
“As the director of Trump’s Nat’l Econ Council, Hassett’s policy views are barely recognizable to those who have known him for decades.”
Repeatedly reminded that KH, Trump, Don Jr, Ivanka, Musk, Oz, et al all attended the same uni — where the prime principles are entrepreneurialism + opportunism
Repeatedly reminded that KH, Trump, Don Jr, Ivanka, Musk, Oz, et al all attended the same uni — where the prime principles are entrepreneurialism + opportunism
How Kevin Hassett Became a Trump Loyalist and Fed Chair Contender
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I firmly believe that most people are not going to be better than the systems around them. The corollaries are
1. we can and should question the systems around us relentlessly
2. we can be wary of people who don't
1. we can and should question the systems around us relentlessly
2. we can be wary of people who don't
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
An essential development over the past decade-plus is that the ignorant went from feeling chastened when their ignorance was revealed to banding together and deciding that, actually, they were right. They might disagree at times, but they agreed that ignorance itself was an indicator of trust.
December 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
An essential development over the past decade-plus is that the ignorant went from feeling chastened when their ignorance was revealed to banding together and deciding that, actually, they were right. They might disagree at times, but they agreed that ignorance itself was an indicator of trust.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
the trouble with trying to get any work done in dead week is that the stretch from Dec 25 to Jan 1 is entirely made of Sundays
December 30, 2025 at 9:16 PM
the trouble with trying to get any work done in dead week is that the stretch from Dec 25 to Jan 1 is entirely made of Sundays
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
'Vase of Flowers.' (1953) Dorothy Mead was taught by David Bomberg and became a founding member of the Borough Group, its output distinguished by angular, expressionist, dense brushwork. She enjoyed critical success showing alongside Hockney and Bridget Riley.
December 30, 2025 at 9:16 PM
'Vase of Flowers.' (1953) Dorothy Mead was taught by David Bomberg and became a founding member of the Borough Group, its output distinguished by angular, expressionist, dense brushwork. She enjoyed critical success showing alongside Hockney and Bridget Riley.
Reposted by Mark Madsen (thinkbag, former boy)
Or the department of war. None of these names are legal and by using them these “neutral” names ABC chooses to participate in the criminal vandalism of the us government, whose leader they have also bribed.
Kind of telling that ABC News/Disney is using the "Trump-Kennedy Center" language to refer to the Kennedy Center despite the fact that it is legally still the Kennedy Center.
December 30, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Or the department of war. None of these names are legal and by using them these “neutral” names ABC chooses to participate in the criminal vandalism of the us government, whose leader they have also bribed.