Josette Torres, MFA
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speedwaybeef.bsky.social
Josette Torres, MFA
@speedwaybeef.bsky.social
47 followers 41 following 55 posts
Poet for hire (Purdue BA / Virginia Tech MFA). Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network fan account. Basketball and the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race for life.

📍Blacksburg, Virginia
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speedwaybeef.bsky.social
Josette Torres, MFA @speedwaybeef.bsky.social · Nov 11
My original account here is @sestinable.bsky.social but I’m locked out of it. My apologies for the inconvenience.
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
matthewfraser.bsky.social
Sad to say, but it’s very likely I will never visit the United States again.
Trump administration moves to deny visas to factcheckers and content moderators
Action detailed in a state department memo directs officials to deny visas to any applicant engaging in ‘censorship’
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
matthewfraser.bsky.social
Walking the dogs near Place de l’Alma.
December 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
nwi-jsp.bsky.social
When I lived in Indy, I used to visit the Indiana Historical Society's Holiday Author Fair downtown on the canal every year. Now I'm an author there.
December 6, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
literaryhub.bsky.social
Finally, some good news.
The US will reinstate library grants canceled by Trump.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services issued a short and sweet update on Wednesday announcing the restoration of all grants supporting libraries and museums: Upon further review, the Institu…
buff.ly
December 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
davidarditi.bsky.social
Duke vs UVA in the acc football championship is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time
December 7, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
kottke.org
I’m actually surprised how well Santa answers these difficult questions in the face of a full on press from the New Yorker’s Isaac Chotiner. [mcsweeneys.net]
The New Yorker’s Isaac Chotiner Interviews Santa Claus
For several centuries, Santa Claus has been one of the most prolific mythical gift-givers in the world. Formerly known as Saint Nicholas of Myra, a…
www.mcsweeneys.net
December 5, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
stluke-oddfellows.bsky.social
Friends of St. Luke, Odd Fellows & Household of Ruth applaud Ordinance 2001 creating the Downtown NW District—an important step to protect the 1905/06 Hall, New Town’s last remnant. Strong enforcement will be key. m.facebook.com/story.php?st...
December 6, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
bubbaprog.xyz
what the hell is going on here
December 6, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
dreharrison.bsky.social
Pato O'Ward's signature ability: Finishing second. #F1
December 5, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
404media.co
Audio-visual librarians are quietly amassing large physical media collections amid the IP disputes threatening select availability.
The Last Video Rental Store Is Your Public Library
Audio-visual librarians are quietly amassing large physical media collections amid the IP disputes threatening select availability.
www.404media.co
December 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
kottke.org
I love the remix of Radiohead’s Everything In Its Right Place in the midst of Kelly Lee Owens’ Boiler Room set (~33:50 mark). Had me chair dancing this AM! [soundcloud.com]
December 3, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
kottke.org
Intertapes is a collection of found cassette tapes — some contain music and others voice memos. Each entry includes images of the tape, a description/track listing, and the actual audio (on Soundcloud). [kottke.org]
An Online Collection of Found Cassette Tapes
Intertapes is a collection of found cassette tapes — some contain music and others voice memos. Each entry includes images of the tape, a description/track listing, and the actual audio (on Soundcloud). This one was r
kottke.org
December 3, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
neglectedbooks.com
Three Famous Novels by a Famous Author.

A reminder of how fleeting is fame.
December 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
billcorbett.bsky.social
A radio station here in Minneapolis is stuck -
cities971.iheart.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
mikeleiderman.bsky.social
I think they set up a stargate between Happy Valley and Blacksburg for PSU commits over Thanksgiving.
November 29, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
publicservicesq.bsky.social
Our latest marketing column outlines a library-led tradition at Virginia Tech. Cheesy Nights provides comfort food (free grilled cheese sandwiches), games, encouragement, and a sense of belonging during final exams. Read more about how it has grown over the past 14 years!

doi.org/10.1080/1522...
Graphic of a grilled cheese sandwich COLUMN:MARKETING Cheesy Nights: A library-led tradition that fuels students and builds community at Virginia Tech Ann Brown, Virginia Tech University Libraries, Blacksburg, VA Cheesy Nights is a student-centered outreach program initiated by University Libraries at Virginia Tech to provide comfort food, encouragement, and a sense of belonging during final exams. What began with a borrowed griddle and $100 has evolved into a multi-day, volunteer-powered event that now serves more than 9,000 sandwiches each semester. This article outlines the origins, goals, logistics, marketing strategy, and cross-campus collaborations that sustain Cheesy Nights. It also provides a “Lessons Learned” section to help other academic libraries adapt the model. Cheesy Nights exemplifies how libraries can foster community and well-being while promoting their services in meaningful, memorable ways. public services Quarterly 2025, VOLUME 21, ISSUE 4
December 1, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
jayrosen.bsky.social
A grim portrait of the journalism profession the way teens see it. Via AP. apnews.com/article/news...
December 1, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
nwi-jsp.bsky.social
"The Onion's story begins in the 1970s with a real newspaper: The Hammond Times of Hammond, Indiana."
www.nwitimes.com/news/local/a...
New book credits Hammond Times with planting seeds for The Onion
New book on The Onion credits The Hammond Times as inspiring the nation's biggest and best known satirical publication.
www.nwitimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
radiolento.bsky.social
A fresh batch of mushrooms in the park this morning.

#FungiFriends 🍄
looking up at brown mushrooms growing in a cluster on an old log. bright sunshine and autumnal leaves blurred in the background. the sun is glinting on the mushrooms. thick stalks and white gills.
December 2, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
kottke.org
Retrospekt refurbs and sells retro technology (VHS tapes, cassette players, instant cameras, typewriters, iPods). [retrospekt.com]
RETROSPEKT - Reviving Retro Tech for a New Generation
The best in vintage Polaroid instant film cameras, cassette players and vintage gaming, faithfully refurbished and restored to original working condition. Polaroid 600 and SX-70, Walkmans, Game Boys, 35mm photography — old favorites, just like new.
retrospekt.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
bubbaprog.xyz
Sad michigan fans
November 29, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
nwi-jsp.bsky.social
"It shows the station is not dead in the water."
www.nwitimes.com/news/local/a...
Lakeshore Public Media lands record-breaking $126,000 donation
Lakeshore Public Media landed a record-breaking $126,000 donation after having both its state and federal funding unexpectedly slashed earlier this year.
www.nwitimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
bruces.bsky.social
*Excellent Anna Tur video here: no crowd, no dancers, no disco balls, it's like she emerged out of the landscape

*Formentera, an island so weird that even Ibizans are scared of it

youtu.be/B9xtkEqfHSc?...
Anna Tur - Live @ Radio Intense, Formentera 2025
YouTube video by Radio Intense
youtu.be
November 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
bubbaprog.xyz
the worst media analysis of all time
ESPN’s commercial fun goes too far By Randy Covitz Kansas City Star KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Get ready for another wave of some- times silly, sometimes clever but mostly needless commercials promoting ESPN’s popular “SportsCenter.” Starting Monday night, ESPN began a campaign showing Keith Olbermann “performing” knee surgery on Indianapolis quarter- back Jim Harbaugh; the Harlem Globetrotters playing Keep-away with Charley Steiner's script; a squeaky-voiced adolescent draft- ed out of high school trying to anchor “SportsCenter” before he’s ready and other goofy spots. Doesn't ESPN, the first word in sports each morning and the last word each night at my house, have more dignity than that? How can we take the news seriously when the anchors act like such buffoons? “Why does Coca-Cola, why does Nike (advertise)?” answered Alan Broce, director - of consumer marketing for ESPN’s advertising agency, Wieden & Kenne@y. “They're alé Media analysis the leading brands in their cate- gories. “That's why we took on the more topical themes in sports: Players coming out early. We're going to do one on trades. As with the show, we're always addressing the new issues in sports, and we want the promos to parallel them.” ESPN points to its successful advertising campaigns featuring singers Robert Goulet and Joan Jett for college basketball; Art Donovan promoting “NFL Game- day”; and the current NHL play- off campaign spotlighting play- ers’ wives. But those commercials provide information about seasonal events covered by ESPN. And they're not turning anchors into comedians. The beauty of “Spor’ :Center” is the anchors «t= e sports too seriously 4. a .ess preten- tious way toa ‘se the show would-be to actu. preview what the viewers will be seeing — news, highlights and features —and let the wry humor of Olbermann and Dan Patrick emerge spontaneously. “I don't think we've compro- mised anything,” said Patrick, who is Olbermann’s co-ancho? for the 10 p.m, “SportsCenter.” “I think we are who we are on the air and off the air. The commer. cials gave us a chance to show. that ‘SportsCenter’ has fun as well as informs and breaks sto- ries. “If you can draw attention to yourself, you get more people to watch, and therefore you can do a quality sports program to a larger audience. The commer- cials have opened ‘SportsCenter’ to people who may not watch, who may not know who we are.” The 10 p.m. “SportsCenter” — seen in more than 800,000 house- holds and an incalculable num- ber of sports bars, hotel rooms and locker rooms not measured by the Nielsen ratings — is the « leader in its field, but it is not alone. CNN’s “Sports Tonight” and ~Prime’s “Press Box” provide healthy competition, and in December CNN and Sports Illus- trated plan to launch a 24-hour channel devoted to sports news. The new ad campaign was designed to reinforce the domi- - nant position of “SportsCenter,” which is as much a favorite of the athletes as it is the viewers. It was a badge of honor for ath- letes to be asked to sing the “da- da-dat, da-da-dat” theme in a previous ad campaign. “I think people nowadays take ‘Sportscenter’ for granted,” Patrick said. “We forget what it was like before it was on the air. It's always there, every day, — every night. Nobody breaks more stories than ESPN, nobody. “So we have fun when we can have fun, but if you say, ‘Do something on Michael Irvin,’ who gets an exclusive with Michael Irvin? ESPN.” For the record, the most enter- taining of the commercials is a takeoff on the “We Are the World” video called “Don't Walk.” Featuring the “Sports- Center” anchors, the song laments the traveling violations that are not called in basketball.
November 26, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Reposted by Josette Torres, MFA
radiolento.bsky.social
As part of our Black Friday deal, you can listen to Radio Lento for free. That's all 286 episodes or 8 full days of sound. All from real quiet locations across the country. Free to your earlobes. Always. (Though a coffee would be nice if you can spare it > ko-fi.com/radiolento)
an island in the middle of a lake in november at the end of the afternoon. the colours of the trees and the clouds are reflected in the still water. some pylons are in the distance. this is an urban oasis of quiet.
November 26, 2025 at 10:42 AM