Prufrock451
@prufrock451.bsky.social
Wrote Rome Sweet Rome, Acadia, and encyclopedias. Bylines in Wired, Mental Floss, Slate, Boing Boing. Won Jeopardy. Alum of WGA, SFWA, AFSCME. Let’s be pals
Pinned
Prufrock451
@prufrock451.bsky.social
· Apr 27
"For the first time in the 250-year history of this country, we have a president who sides with a dictator"
- Sen. Sanders on Meet the Press, referring to Putin
- Sen. Sanders on Meet the Press, referring to Putin
The US government installed “hereditary chiefs” across countless Native American nations, in order to have someone “credible” to sign treaties with. Literally one of the first things we did as a country
Give everyone equal access to death cabs, not just cuties
January 27, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Give everyone equal access to death cabs, not just cuties
Reposted by Prufrock451
"Good tsar, bad boyars" has been a recurring theme of Trumpism every year the dude's been office. It's wild.
January 27, 2026 at 3:27 PM
"Good tsar, bad boyars" has been a recurring theme of Trumpism every year the dude's been office. It's wild.
Reposted by Prufrock451
Reposted by Prufrock451
Even when they show signs of weakness or forced regret, we must not give an inch. Authoritarian governments still respond to public opinion, which is why sustained pressure matters. We have to keep making clear that these thuggish actions are unconscionable and will not be tolerated. Don’t let up.
January 26, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Even when they show signs of weakness or forced regret, we must not give an inch. Authoritarian governments still respond to public opinion, which is why sustained pressure matters. We have to keep making clear that these thuggish actions are unconscionable and will not be tolerated. Don’t let up.
This is a very important thread, please save for reference
WHICH STARSHIPS HAVE FAX MACHINES? 🧵
January 9, 2026 at 3:44 PM
This is a very important thread, please save for reference
NEWS. 13 years ago, I started work on an encyclopedia of U.S. military actions. Three years of work, 700,000 words- and two weeks after turning in the last article, the publisher axed the project.
January 8, 2026 at 8:26 PM
NEWS. 13 years ago, I started work on an encyclopedia of U.S. military actions. Three years of work, 700,000 words- and two weeks after turning in the last article, the publisher axed the project.
Reposted by Prufrock451
I am 50 and I desperately want to stop making decisions. The old bastards running this country are deeply sick. Stay home and do Legos and learn how to make gnocchi, what the fuck are you doing
February 7, 2025 at 1:23 AM
I am 50 and I desperately want to stop making decisions. The old bastards running this country are deeply sick. Stay home and do Legos and learn how to make gnocchi, what the fuck are you doing
Reposted by Prufrock451
The US government installed “hereditary chiefs” across countless Native American nations, in order to have someone “credible” to sign treaties with. Literally one of the first things we did as a country
"For the first time in the 250-year history of this country, we have a president who sides with a dictator"
- Sen. Sanders on Meet the Press, referring to Putin
- Sen. Sanders on Meet the Press, referring to Putin
April 27, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The US government installed “hereditary chiefs” across countless Native American nations, in order to have someone “credible” to sign treaties with. Literally one of the first things we did as a country
This is the only day of the year I post
On this day 40 years ago, a stream of charged particles was fired at Gordon Lightfoot, splitting him into Chris Pratt and Bryan Cranston
November 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM
This is the only day of the year I post
Reposted by Prufrock451
In my sci-fi novel Acadia from 2013:
-A Russia-related scandal leads to a complete overhaul of the US intelligence community
-An anti-Mexican demagogue briefly seizes power
-the richest man in the world rules space in collusion with pro-AI forces that secretly shape US foreign policy
-A Russia-related scandal leads to a complete overhaul of the US intelligence community
-An anti-Mexican demagogue briefly seizes power
-the richest man in the world rules space in collusion with pro-AI forces that secretly shape US foreign policy
February 4, 2025 at 1:48 AM
In my sci-fi novel Acadia from 2013:
-A Russia-related scandal leads to a complete overhaul of the US intelligence community
-An anti-Mexican demagogue briefly seizes power
-the richest man in the world rules space in collusion with pro-AI forces that secretly shape US foreign policy
-A Russia-related scandal leads to a complete overhaul of the US intelligence community
-An anti-Mexican demagogue briefly seizes power
-the richest man in the world rules space in collusion with pro-AI forces that secretly shape US foreign policy
Told ya
Imagine having the power and resources of New York’s Democratic Party and consistently offering up the squishiest, most cautious motherfuckers on the planet to accomplish jack shit
Oh boy, there's more. At a presser minutes ago, Jeffries says he's powerless:
JOURNALIST: To what extent will Dems withhold votes in the negotiations?
JEFFRIES: Repubs control trifecta, it’s THEIR govt. What leverage do we have? We’re going to continue to try to find bipartisan common ground...
JOURNALIST: To what extent will Dems withhold votes in the negotiations?
JEFFRIES: Repubs control trifecta, it’s THEIR govt. What leverage do we have? We’re going to continue to try to find bipartisan common ground...
November 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Told ya
Reposted by Prufrock451
"The Empire is like America ten years from now".
May 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
"The Empire is like America ten years from now".
Reposted by Prufrock451
three million years ago somebody picked up a rock because it looked like a little face and held onto it
This is older than any god this is who we truly are
This is older than any god this is who we truly are
one of my favorite archaeology terms is "manuport" which just means a thing (rock, animal, stick, etc) that's in a weird place because a prehistoric human picked it up and carried it there. this one is estimated to be 3 million years old
May 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
three million years ago somebody picked up a rock because it looked like a little face and held onto it
This is older than any god this is who we truly are
This is older than any god this is who we truly are
Reposted by Prufrock451
the pope isn't from chicago unless he works being from chicago into every conversation
May 10, 2025 at 12:27 AM
the pope isn't from chicago unless he works being from chicago into every conversation
Reposted by Prufrock451
Feeling emboldened that perhaps, in my lifetime, we could have a pope that was in The Sea and Cake
May 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Feeling emboldened that perhaps, in my lifetime, we could have a pope that was in The Sea and Cake
Didn’t even need the third F-18 to get a pope from Chicago, it turns out
Once I complete the ritual with the offering of a third F-18 it’s over for you bitches
May 9, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Didn’t even need the third F-18 to get a pope from Chicago, it turns out
Reposted by Prufrock451
Associate Director for Research Libraries position at the Smithsonian Institute
www.indeed.com/viewjob?from...
www.indeed.com/viewjob?from...
Associate Director for Research Libraries - Washington, DC - Indeed.com
US Smithsonian Institution
www.indeed.com
May 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Associate Director for Research Libraries position at the Smithsonian Institute
www.indeed.com/viewjob?from...
www.indeed.com/viewjob?from...
Reposted by Prufrock451
A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope
May 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM
A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope
Reposted by Prufrock451
the New Pope says he's from Chicago but he's *actually* from Naperville
May 8, 2025 at 5:19 PM
the New Pope says he's from Chicago but he's *actually* from Naperville
Reposted by Prufrock451
“The pope will be from Chicago” sounds like an 1880s Republican’s dire prediction for if we don’t stop Irish immigration
May 8, 2025 at 5:26 PM
“The pope will be from Chicago” sounds like an 1880s Republican’s dire prediction for if we don’t stop Irish immigration
Reposted by Prufrock451
INTRODUCING YOUR CHICAGO PAPAL BULLS STARTING LINEUP [monophonic Gregorian chanting intensifies]
May 8, 2025 at 5:38 PM
INTRODUCING YOUR CHICAGO PAPAL BULLS STARTING LINEUP [monophonic Gregorian chanting intensifies]
The moment Bobby Prevost decided to leave for seminary
May 8, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The moment Bobby Prevost decided to leave for seminary
Reposted by Prufrock451
He's gonna be out there turning water into malort
May 8, 2025 at 5:24 PM
He's gonna be out there turning water into malort
A mathematician from Chicago! Get ready to hear a shitload of Wilco blasting across St Peter’s Square
May 8, 2025 at 5:22 PM
A mathematician from Chicago! Get ready to hear a shitload of Wilco blasting across St Peter’s Square