Mike Sarasti
@sarasti.bsky.social
Musician / Technologist / Long history in local government.
Half of RAKER - @rakermusic.bsky.social
Half of RAKER - @rakermusic.bsky.social
Pinned
Mike Sarasti
@sarasti.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Quick Intro:
Miami-based musician / technologist with long history working in local gov.
Things I expect to post about here:
Music, creative expression, future of cities, knowledge systems, gov innovation, & technology that keeps humans top of mind.
Occasionally preach about more empathy.
Miami-based musician / technologist with long history working in local gov.
Things I expect to post about here:
Music, creative expression, future of cities, knowledge systems, gov innovation, & technology that keeps humans top of mind.
Occasionally preach about more empathy.
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
From his parents:
"I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting."
"I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting."
Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.
"Please get the truth out about our son."
"Please get the truth out about our son."
January 25, 2026 at 12:54 AM
From his parents:
"I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting."
"I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting."
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
Andor was cooking so unbelievably hard good grief
January 18, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Andor was cooking so unbelievably hard good grief
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
Grok is so much worse than you think.
January 17, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Grok is so much worse than you think.
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
i said a word a day for an entire year.
YouTube video by Henry Brown
www.youtube.com
January 17, 2026 at 6:06 PM
"Renee lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow." -- Becca Good, wife of Renee.
Becca Good, the wife of Renee Good, has released her first public statement since the shooting
“We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day.”
“We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day.”
Renee Macklin Good’s wife says she nurtured kindness
On Wednesday, Renee Macklin Good was fatally shot by a federal ICE agent. Becca Good, her wife, shared the following statement with MPR News.
www.mprnews.org
January 9, 2026 at 6:18 PM
"Renee lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow." -- Becca Good, wife of Renee.
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
100pct correct. Empirically, we are as close to a consensus on this as we are likely to see on any topic. It's wild how pervasive the stigma and rhetoric remain.
No. No. No.
Punitive processes make narrowly targeted programs *less* efficient and *more* costly. Because more scrutiny requires more bureaucracy.
Punitive processes also make it *less* likely that people will get aid for which they qualify. Because of the roadblocks and stigma scrutiny creates.
Punitive processes make narrowly targeted programs *less* efficient and *more* costly. Because more scrutiny requires more bureaucracy.
Punitive processes also make it *less* likely that people will get aid for which they qualify. Because of the roadblocks and stigma scrutiny creates.
January 5, 2026 at 12:44 AM
100pct correct. Empirically, we are as close to a consensus on this as we are likely to see on any topic. It's wild how pervasive the stigma and rhetoric remain.
This escalation of Risk-coded “hemispheric dominance” lines up with where elements of our culture - specifically business / venture capital culture - has been headed. It’s “blitzscaling” applied to geopolitics. (Which of course comes from the word “blitzkrieg”)
Trump: "We need Greenland from a national security situation. It's so strategic. Right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security. And Denmark is not gonna be able to do it ... the EU needs us to have it"
January 5, 2026 at 2:50 AM
This escalation of Risk-coded “hemispheric dominance” lines up with where elements of our culture - specifically business / venture capital culture - has been headed. It’s “blitzscaling” applied to geopolitics. (Which of course comes from the word “blitzkrieg”)
Eh… we’ll just place the poly market bet instead…
(Semafor) - The New York Times and Washington Post learned of a secret US raid on Venezuela soon before it was scheduled to begin Friday night — but held off publishing what they knew to avoid endangering US troops ..
@semafor.com
www.semafor.com/article/01/0...
@semafor.com
www.semafor.com/article/01/0...
January 4, 2026 at 2:02 AM
Eh… we’ll just place the poly market bet instead…
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
This is correct. Regardless of how you feel about the attack/ taking Maduro, there is already a legitimately elected government that is not Maduro.
But because of today's actions, a future election could have a different outcome. So that's a no-go. Concretely, this is not about democracy.
But because of today's actions, a future election could have a different outcome. So that's a no-go. Concretely, this is not about democracy.
Venezuela has a legitimate government in waiting. If they are able to take power quickly, without Trump trying to impose conditions, Venezuela might be able to move to legitimate democratic government.
Trump is very much suggesting that he wants to pick the next leader and extract reparations.
Trump is very much suggesting that he wants to pick the next leader and extract reparations.
January 3, 2026 at 7:02 PM
This is correct. Regardless of how you feel about the attack/ taking Maduro, there is already a legitimately elected government that is not Maduro.
But because of today's actions, a future election could have a different outcome. So that's a no-go. Concretely, this is not about democracy.
But because of today's actions, a future election could have a different outcome. So that's a no-go. Concretely, this is not about democracy.
Great line in this article: “My phone is my toy and my toil, the first object I touch upon waking, the spackle to my spare minutes, the inanimate partner in our shared lie, which is that it works for me and not the other way around.”
Is the latest iPhone operating system aesthetically appealing? No. But is it useful? Also no. At least I have company among the disgruntled.
Phone Updates Used to Be Annoying. The Latest iOS Is Awful
Is the latest iPhone operating system aesthetically appealing? No. But is it useful? Also no. At least I have company among the disgruntled.
wrd.cm
December 25, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Great line in this article: “My phone is my toy and my toil, the first object I touch upon waking, the spackle to my spare minutes, the inanimate partner in our shared lie, which is that it works for me and not the other way around.”
k.d. lang - Constant Craving (MTV Unplugged)
YouTube video by Nonesuch Records
youtu.be
December 6, 2025 at 5:33 AM
“I work on government innovation”
“Oh… so you’re like DOGE?”
🙄
“Oh… so you’re like DOGE?”
🙄
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 1, 2025 at 9:55 PM
“I work on government innovation”
“Oh… so you’re like DOGE?”
🙄
“Oh… so you’re like DOGE?”
🙄
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
As a society we must better explain why "eliminating information silos" is such a dangerous goal at the fed level.
Some data sharing is good! But only in a privacy-preserving way, with individual consent. A significant engineering challenge that SV billionaires don't want to see completed.
Some data sharing is good! But only in a privacy-preserving way, with individual consent. A significant engineering challenge that SV billionaires don't want to see completed.
Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
December 1, 2025 at 3:20 AM
As a society we must better explain why "eliminating information silos" is such a dangerous goal at the fed level.
Some data sharing is good! But only in a privacy-preserving way, with individual consent. A significant engineering challenge that SV billionaires don't want to see completed.
Some data sharing is good! But only in a privacy-preserving way, with individual consent. A significant engineering challenge that SV billionaires don't want to see completed.
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
The way I try to de-AI-ify my classes is that I emphasize at the beginning and throughout the semester that all we're doing is reading some interesting shit other humans have produced, talking about that shit, and writing about it. Humans have been benefitting from that process for centuries w/o AI.
November 29, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The way I try to de-AI-ify my classes is that I emphasize at the beginning and throughout the semester that all we're doing is reading some interesting shit other humans have produced, talking about that shit, and writing about it. Humans have been benefitting from that process for centuries w/o AI.
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
New York City helped my mother become the artist she is today. The next generation deserves a City Hall that lifts up tomorrow's artists as well.
November 26, 2025 at 1:49 AM
New York City helped my mother become the artist she is today. The next generation deserves a City Hall that lifts up tomorrow's artists as well.
Fantastic piece “digesting” a fantastic album.
Weaves reflections on our collective consumption of slop and our consumption of god.
Weaves reflections on our collective consumption of slop and our consumption of god.
I wrote about Rosalía's "Lux," martyrdom, and our collective gastrointestinal health johnpaulbrammer.substack.com/p/eat-me
Eat Me
On Rosalía's "Lux" and our collective gut health
johnpaulbrammer.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Fantastic piece “digesting” a fantastic album.
Weaves reflections on our collective consumption of slop and our consumption of god.
Weaves reflections on our collective consumption of slop and our consumption of god.
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
Who said people don't want to work in government anymore.... This will be exciting to follow/study!
11695 I’m talking to you! We’ve received over 50K resumes, from every single zip code in NYC… except for one.
Apply today and help us build a City Hall for everyone.
Apply today and help us build a City Hall for everyone.
November 16, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Who said people don't want to work in government anymore.... This will be exciting to follow/study!
Haute Hubris
emailing in a semi-literate manner isn’t a sign of stupidity, it’s another form of rich asshole arrogance because you don’t think you owe anyone coherent thoughts
November 13, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Haute Hubris
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
every generation loves Rumours. it’s fucking Rumours
November 9, 2025 at 2:55 AM
every generation loves Rumours. it’s fucking Rumours
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
There's a whole generation that learned irony before sincerity and now they're trapped. Can't be earnest without a layer of self-deprecation. Can't be enthusiastic without signaling awareness of how cringe enthusiasm is.
The price of never being vulnerable is never connecting.
The price of never being vulnerable is never connecting.
November 8, 2025 at 4:18 AM
There's a whole generation that learned irony before sincerity and now they're trapped. Can't be earnest without a layer of self-deprecation. Can't be enthusiastic without signaling awareness of how cringe enthusiasm is.
The price of never being vulnerable is never connecting.
The price of never being vulnerable is never connecting.
I forgot to mention this on here a couple of weeks ago, but I had an amazing time at iiiPoints Music festival - Paco y Ca7riel, Turnstile, Oklou, Bicep, MkGee… but best encore was laying my head down to sleep on Sat night… and I had super vivid dream @ekkoastral.bsky.social playing 🔥 closing set.
it sure would be a shame if “horseglue” by ekko astral randomly went viral on a sunday ohoho
Ekko Astral - "horseglue" [Official Music Video]
YouTube video by Ekko Astral
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 4:16 AM
I forgot to mention this on here a couple of weeks ago, but I had an amazing time at iiiPoints Music festival - Paco y Ca7riel, Turnstile, Oklou, Bicep, MkGee… but best encore was laying my head down to sleep on Sat night… and I had super vivid dream @ekkoastral.bsky.social playing 🔥 closing set.
Reposted by Mike Sarasti
After all, look around: it's happening, it's happening, it's happening now
November 4, 2025 at 4:06 AM
After all, look around: it's happening, it's happening, it's happening now
You can also catch @catherinebracy.com being interviewed by @mmasnick.bsky.social on latest episode of @techdirt.com podcast - www.techdirt.com/edition/podc...
October 29, 2025 at 4:41 PM
You can also catch @catherinebracy.com being interviewed by @mmasnick.bsky.social on latest episode of @techdirt.com podcast - www.techdirt.com/edition/podc...
So cool to see @catherinebracy.com on @thedailyshow.com. Very much enjoying her book “World Eaters” discussing how current state of venture capital shapes entrepreneurship / incentives very specific outcomes in society. Hard hitting, but nuanced takes.
youtu.be/gD-4p1etrF0?...
youtu.be/gD-4p1etrF0?...
Catherine Bracy - TechEquity & Venture Capital “World Eaters” | The Daily Show
YouTube video by The Daily Show
youtu.be
October 29, 2025 at 4:36 PM
So cool to see @catherinebracy.com on @thedailyshow.com. Very much enjoying her book “World Eaters” discussing how current state of venture capital shapes entrepreneurship / incentives very specific outcomes in society. Hard hitting, but nuanced takes.
youtu.be/gD-4p1etrF0?...
youtu.be/gD-4p1etrF0?...
Something peaceful in this @wired.com piece by @ftrain.bsky.social about what happens after AI bubble bursts. Nerds nerding out again in messiness of the aftermath. Reminder that the time after the dot com bust felt better in many ways than the fever dreams before it.
www.wired.com/story/ai-nor...
www.wired.com/story/ai-nor...
The Argument for Letting AI Burn It All Down
When the AI bubble bursts, the nerds will do their best work.
www.wired.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Something peaceful in this @wired.com piece by @ftrain.bsky.social about what happens after AI bubble bursts. Nerds nerding out again in messiness of the aftermath. Reminder that the time after the dot com bust felt better in many ways than the fever dreams before it.
www.wired.com/story/ai-nor...
www.wired.com/story/ai-nor...