Andrew Weber
@noplot.bsky.social
Mostly harmless random stupid stuff (citation: my wife). Confusing relatives, coworkers, spouse, and cat for decades. Probably at the movies as you read this. He/him.
Definitely worth seeing when it shows on PBS on Monday the 9th! Come for the inspiring librarians, stay to learn more about Patriot Mobile (the ones who lost the Texas state senate race last week) than you wanted to know. (You can stream the Olympic luge events afterwards.)
“There are book challenges; that is not new. What is happening now is brazen breaking of protocol on a scope that has never been seen like this.” @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social @la-cac.org @oif.bsky.social @uabookbans.bsky.social
deadline.com/2026/02/the-...
deadline.com/2026/02/the-...
‘The Librarians’ To Premiere On PBS ‘Independent Lens’ As Political Backlash Mounts Against Book Banning
'The Librarians,' directed by Kim A. Snyder, will debut on PBS amid a backlash to book banning campaigns across the country.
deadline.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Definitely worth seeing when it shows on PBS on Monday the 9th! Come for the inspiring librarians, stay to learn more about Patriot Mobile (the ones who lost the Texas state senate race last week) than you wanted to know. (You can stream the Olympic luge events afterwards.)
Here's the latest bi-weekly update to the spreadsheet of US Catholic bishops at docs.google.com/spreadsheets... :
-Congratulations to Bishop Mario Avilés on his installation as Bishop of Corpus Christi, and happy retirement to Bishop Emeritus William Mulvey of Corpus Christi.
-Congratulations to Bishop Mario Avilés on his installation as Bishop of Corpus Christi, and happy retirement to Bishop Emeritus William Mulvey of Corpus Christi.
Catholic Bishops of the United States
docs.google.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Here's the latest bi-weekly update to the spreadsheet of US Catholic bishops at docs.google.com/spreadsheets... :
-Congratulations to Bishop Mario Avilés on his installation as Bishop of Corpus Christi, and happy retirement to Bishop Emeritus William Mulvey of Corpus Christi.
-Congratulations to Bishop Mario Avilés on his installation as Bishop of Corpus Christi, and happy retirement to Bishop Emeritus William Mulvey of Corpus Christi.
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
Urban Geography
Television and Religion
16mm Filmmaking
Introduction to Chemistry
American Politics
(Yes, I ended up with an individually designed major in Demography, Political Analysis, and Film; my parents still wince.)
Urban Geography
Television and Religion
16mm Filmmaking
Introduction to Chemistry
American Politics
(Yes, I ended up with an individually designed major in Demography, Political Analysis, and Film; my parents still wince.)
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college
Quantum mechanics
Alternative traditions in film
Viticulture and enology
French women writers
Native American history since 1885
Quantum mechanics
Alternative traditions in film
Viticulture and enology
French women writers
Native American history since 1885
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college
Social movements
Real analysis
The financial crisis (during the crisis)
Groups and sects in Islam
International finance (I fell asleep a lot in this one because it was at like 2 pm on the day I had a 2-5 am radio show)
Social movements
Real analysis
The financial crisis (during the crisis)
Groups and sects in Islam
International finance (I fell asleep a lot in this one because it was at like 2 pm on the day I had a 2-5 am radio show)
January 31, 2026 at 5:08 AM
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
Urban Geography
Television and Religion
16mm Filmmaking
Introduction to Chemistry
American Politics
(Yes, I ended up with an individually designed major in Demography, Political Analysis, and Film; my parents still wince.)
Urban Geography
Television and Religion
16mm Filmmaking
Introduction to Chemistry
American Politics
(Yes, I ended up with an individually designed major in Demography, Political Analysis, and Film; my parents still wince.)
It looks like a two-week cycle works best for updates to the spreadsheet of US Catholic Bishops at docs.google.com/spreadsheets... .
-Congratulations to Auxiliary Bishop John S. Bonnici on his appointment as Bishop of Rochester, NY.
Once new bishops are installed, predecessors will be removed.
-Congratulations to Auxiliary Bishop John S. Bonnici on his appointment as Bishop of Rochester, NY.
Once new bishops are installed, predecessors will be removed.
Catholic Bishops of the United States
docs.google.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:39 AM
It looks like a two-week cycle works best for updates to the spreadsheet of US Catholic Bishops at docs.google.com/spreadsheets... .
-Congratulations to Auxiliary Bishop John S. Bonnici on his appointment as Bishop of Rochester, NY.
Once new bishops are installed, predecessors will be removed.
-Congratulations to Auxiliary Bishop John S. Bonnici on his appointment as Bishop of Rochester, NY.
Once new bishops are installed, predecessors will be removed.
Introduce yourself with 5 facts.
1) Open the door, you find a secret
2) To find the answer is to keep it
3) You'll believe it when you find
4) Something screaming 'cross your mind
5) Green Slime!
1) Open the door, you find a secret
2) To find the answer is to keep it
3) You'll believe it when you find
4) Something screaming 'cross your mind
5) Green Slime!
Introduce yourself with 5 facts.
1) My, my at Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender
2) Oh, yeah And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
3)The history book on the shelf Is always repeating itself
4) Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war
5) Waterloo, Promise to love you forevermore
1) My, my at Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender
2) Oh, yeah And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
3)The history book on the shelf Is always repeating itself
4) Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war
5) Waterloo, Promise to love you forevermore
Introduce yourself with 5 facts.
1) I've got faith to believe I can do anything
2) I've got strength of the soul
3) And no one's gonna bend or break me
4) I can reach any star
5) I've got faith, I've got faith, faith of the heart
1) I've got faith to believe I can do anything
2) I've got strength of the soul
3) And no one's gonna bend or break me
4) I can reach any star
5) I've got faith, I've got faith, faith of the heart
January 15, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Introduce yourself with 5 facts.
1) Open the door, you find a secret
2) To find the answer is to keep it
3) You'll believe it when you find
4) Something screaming 'cross your mind
5) Green Slime!
1) Open the door, you find a secret
2) To find the answer is to keep it
3) You'll believe it when you find
4) Something screaming 'cross your mind
5) Green Slime!
Updates for the last two weeks to the spreadsheet of US Catholic bishops at docs.google.com/spreadsheets... :
-Congratulations to Bishop-designate James Misko of Tucson. With his appointment, four US dioceses are sede vacante: Belleville, IL; Joliet, IL; Metuchen, NJ; and Steubenville, OH.
-Congratulations to Bishop-designate James Misko of Tucson. With his appointment, four US dioceses are sede vacante: Belleville, IL; Joliet, IL; Metuchen, NJ; and Steubenville, OH.
Catholic Bishops of the United States
docs.google.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:18 AM
Updates for the last two weeks to the spreadsheet of US Catholic bishops at docs.google.com/spreadsheets... :
-Congratulations to Bishop-designate James Misko of Tucson. With his appointment, four US dioceses are sede vacante: Belleville, IL; Joliet, IL; Metuchen, NJ; and Steubenville, OH.
-Congratulations to Bishop-designate James Misko of Tucson. With his appointment, four US dioceses are sede vacante: Belleville, IL; Joliet, IL; Metuchen, NJ; and Steubenville, OH.
#DEFAcember will return in the spring, though I'm not sure of the topic yet; it could be based around @deafcrocodile.bsky.social 's planned Märchenfilme set coming out this year, but I've got another idea in mind as well; if I do that, it'll be in April. Etwas Später Frohes Neues Jahr!
January 4, 2026 at 12:31 AM
#DEFAcember will return in the spring, though I'm not sure of the topic yet; it could be based around @deafcrocodile.bsky.social 's planned Märchenfilme set coming out this year, but I've got another idea in mind as well; if I do that, it'll be in April. Etwas Später Frohes Neues Jahr!
#DEFAcember and the 11th Plenum: I decided to watch this series of films not only for the 60th anniversary of the 11th Plenum, but also because of a statement in Jim Morton's @popvoid.bsky.social "Movies Behind the Wall" that the 11th Plenum seems like the point at which the soul of the GDR died.
January 4, 2026 at 12:26 AM
#DEFAcember and the 11th Plenum: I decided to watch this series of films not only for the 60th anniversary of the 11th Plenum, but also because of a statement in Jim Morton's @popvoid.bsky.social "Movies Behind the Wall" that the 11th Plenum seems like the point at which the soul of the GDR died.
#MST3K and Joel Hodgson, call your lawyers! You clearly came up with the concept first back in 1993! youtu.be/dUh85A4M4Ds?...
January 3, 2026 at 6:20 AM
#MST3K and Joel Hodgson, call your lawyers! You clearly came up with the concept first back in 1993! youtu.be/dUh85A4M4Ds?...
Merriam-Webster is a great provider of dictionaries and other reference books, but I could not pull this word off if my life depended on it. (I do have droopy eyelids, but I don't look sultry, I just look asleep on conference calls.)
January 1, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Merriam-Webster is a great provider of dictionaries and other reference books, but I could not pull this word off if my life depended on it. (I do have droopy eyelids, but I don't look sultry, I just look asleep on conference calls.)
Finding your Christmas films have too many reindeer and snowmen and not enough stolen washing machines? Then check out the fun "Der Weihnachtsmann heißt Willi" (1969), which also features the beloved Clown Ferdinand, interesting Leipzig scenery, and Fred Delmare. No subtitles, but you'll get by.
For some reason lists of the greatest Christmas movies ever made have never featured what is clearly the undisputed correct answer: an East German film about a clown dressed as Santa who steals a washing machine from a five-year-old, who won it at a Leipzig fairground
Der Weihnachtsmann heißt Willi
Der Weihnachtsmann heißt Willi
December 26, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Finding your Christmas films have too many reindeer and snowmen and not enough stolen washing machines? Then check out the fun "Der Weihnachtsmann heißt Willi" (1969), which also features the beloved Clown Ferdinand, interesting Leipzig scenery, and Fred Delmare. No subtitles, but you'll get by.
#DEFAcember 43: There can't be many films that were banned even before being completed, but the 11th Plenum managed to do so with "Miss Butterfly" (1965). It was filmed during the fall of 1965, with filming completed just days before the 11th Plenum started, and it was banned based on a rough cut.
December 25, 2025 at 12:39 AM
#DEFAcember 43: There can't be many films that were banned even before being completed, but the 11th Plenum managed to do so with "Miss Butterfly" (1965). It was filmed during the fall of 1965, with filming completed just days before the 11th Plenum started, and it was banned based on a rough cut.
No updates last week, but this week's updates to the spreadsheet of US Catholic bishops at docs.google.com/spreadsheets... made up for it.
-Congratulations to Bishop Ramon Bejarano for his appointment as the new bishop of Monterey, CA. He was previously an auxiliary bishop in San Diego.
-Congratulations to Bishop Ramon Bejarano for his appointment as the new bishop of Monterey, CA. He was previously an auxiliary bishop in San Diego.
Catholic Bishops of the United States
docs.google.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:28 AM
No updates last week, but this week's updates to the spreadsheet of US Catholic bishops at docs.google.com/spreadsheets... made up for it.
-Congratulations to Bishop Ramon Bejarano for his appointment as the new bishop of Monterey, CA. He was previously an auxiliary bishop in San Diego.
-Congratulations to Bishop Ramon Bejarano for his appointment as the new bishop of Monterey, CA. He was previously an auxiliary bishop in San Diego.
#DEFAcember 42: Karla (1965) is another film banned by the 11th Plenum that never got a release until 1990 when cinematographer Günter Ost spearheaded its restoration. Jutta Hoffman stars as Karla Blum, a newly graduated teacher who heads from Berlin to a small town to start her teaching career.
December 19, 2025 at 7:10 AM
#DEFAcember 42: Karla (1965) is another film banned by the 11th Plenum that never got a release until 1990 when cinematographer Günter Ost spearheaded its restoration. Jutta Hoffman stars as Karla Blum, a newly graduated teacher who heads from Berlin to a small town to start her teaching career.
#DEFAcember 41: unlike the previous films banned by the 11th Plenum discussed this week, "Born in '45" (1966) has no political figures, or unethical people, or even political discussion. Instead, it's about a young couple who have decided to get a divorce after two years, but it's not clear why.
December 18, 2025 at 4:12 AM
#DEFAcember 41: unlike the previous films banned by the 11th Plenum discussed this week, "Born in '45" (1966) has no political figures, or unethical people, or even political discussion. Instead, it's about a young couple who have decided to get a divorce after two years, but it's not clear why.
#DEFAcember 40: "Just Don't Think I'll Cry" is one of a few DEFA films rooted in the New Youth Program from the Socialist Unity Party in 1963, which encouraged young people to participate in the educational process and promised to allow young people more freedom in choosing their own lifestyles.
December 17, 2025 at 7:08 AM
#DEFAcember 40: "Just Don't Think I'll Cry" is one of a few DEFA films rooted in the New Youth Program from the Socialist Unity Party in 1963, which encouraged young people to participate in the educational process and promised to allow young people more freedom in choosing their own lifestyles.
#DEFAcember 39: While the banned films of the 11th Plenum are often called "Rabbit Films" after "The Rabbit is Me", "Spring Takes Time" (1965) came out in theaters just before the 11th Plenum, and directly criticized aspects of East Germany's economic system, especially their quota system.
December 16, 2025 at 6:50 AM
#DEFAcember 39: While the banned films of the 11th Plenum are often called "Rabbit Films" after "The Rabbit is Me", "Spring Takes Time" (1965) came out in theaters just before the 11th Plenum, and directly criticized aspects of East Germany's economic system, especially their quota system.
#DEFAcember continues: It was supposed to be a meeting about economic policy.
Instead, the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, which took place 60 years ago this month, ended up being one of the most consequential events in DEFA and East German history.
Instead, the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, which took place 60 years ago this month, ended up being one of the most consequential events in DEFA and East German history.
December 16, 2025 at 2:26 AM
#DEFAcember continues: It was supposed to be a meeting about economic policy.
Instead, the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, which took place 60 years ago this month, ended up being one of the most consequential events in DEFA and East German history.
Instead, the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, which took place 60 years ago this month, ended up being one of the most consequential events in DEFA and East German history.
This week's updates to the spreadsheet of US Catholic bishops at docs.google.com/spreadsheets... :
-Congratulations to Bishop Mark O'Connell on his installation as Bishop of Albany, and to Bishop Emeritus Edward Scharfenberger on his retirement.
-Congratulations to Bishop Mark O'Connell on his installation as Bishop of Albany, and to Bishop Emeritus Edward Scharfenberger on his retirement.
Catholic Bishops of the United States
docs.google.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:25 AM
This week's updates to the spreadsheet of US Catholic bishops at docs.google.com/spreadsheets... :
-Congratulations to Bishop Mark O'Connell on his installation as Bishop of Albany, and to Bishop Emeritus Edward Scharfenberger on his retirement.
-Congratulations to Bishop Mark O'Connell on his installation as Bishop of Albany, and to Bishop Emeritus Edward Scharfenberger on his retirement.
I'm a bit late on this, but I'm not at all surprised that (a) my most common words include film(s), bishops, and DEFA, and (b) my average alt-text length exceeds the maximum for a post on BlueSky. anisota.net/harvest
December 5, 2025 at 3:38 AM
I'm a bit late on this, but I'm not at all surprised that (a) my most common words include film(s), bishops, and DEFA, and (b) my average alt-text length exceeds the maximum for a post on BlueSky. anisota.net/harvest
Only one change in the USCCB spreadsheet since their meeting: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... . Happy 75th birthday to Bishop Lawrence Persico of Erie, who will submit his retirement letter to the Pope. There are now 26 bishops at the retirement age of 75, including two with designated successors.
Catholic Bishops of the United States
docs.google.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Only one change in the USCCB spreadsheet since their meeting: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... . Happy 75th birthday to Bishop Lawrence Persico of Erie, who will submit his retirement letter to the Pope. There are now 26 bishops at the retirement age of 75, including two with designated successors.
Might as well give @profanity.accountant an easy one...
November 30, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Might as well give @profanity.accountant an easy one...
Post something random or you'll have an awful December.
November 28, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Post something random or you'll have an awful December.
Reposted by Andrew Weber
After racking up decisive wins across the country last week, how can Democrats keep up the momentum at the ballot box next year, when Congress will be on the line?
An exclusive poll for The Downballot offers an answer.
An exclusive poll for The Downballot offers an answer.
New poll shows Democrats’ best path in 2026: Remind voters the GOP’s in charge
What do independents want next year? It all depends on how you ask the question.
www.the-downballot.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:54 PM
After racking up decisive wins across the country last week, how can Democrats keep up the momentum at the ballot box next year, when Congress will be on the line?
An exclusive poll for The Downballot offers an answer.
An exclusive poll for The Downballot offers an answer.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) starts their annual meeting tomorrow, and as they do every three years, this will include a vote on a new President of the Conference, with Archbishop Timothy Broglio's term ending and the Vice President ineligible to move up due to age.
November 10, 2025 at 2:19 AM
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) starts their annual meeting tomorrow, and as they do every three years, this will include a vote on a new President of the Conference, with Archbishop Timothy Broglio's term ending and the Vice President ineligible to move up due to age.