Tim Carmody
@tcarmody.bsky.social
Ex-liontamer, writer/editor/strategist.
I used to work for Wired, The Verge, The Atlantic, The Message, Adweek, and Amazon Chronicles.
I also host sometimes at Kottke.org.
Call me he/him.
PHL.
Everything changes; don’t be afraid.
https://timcarmody.com
I used to work for Wired, The Verge, The Atlantic, The Message, Adweek, and Amazon Chronicles.
I also host sometimes at Kottke.org.
Call me he/him.
PHL.
Everything changes; don’t be afraid.
https://timcarmody.com
Pinned
Tim Carmody
@tcarmody.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Inside each of us is a little boy, a shy, lovesick girl with a curse, a demon made of fire, and a shape-shifting wizard with no heart.
#OldTweets
#OldTweets
Reposted by Tim Carmody
How Finland Defeated Fascism in the 1930s. "A violent, conservative, political movement...almost pushed Finland into authoritarianism. But then something happened. They managed to stave off fascism, and they've remained a stable democracy ever since." [kottke.org]
How Finland Defeated Fascism in the 1930s
In the 1930s, a radical conservative political group almost succeeded in overthrowing Finland’s democracy:
Called the Lapua movement, it was a far-right group of Finns who sought to overthrow the republic, margina
kottke.org
February 19, 2026 at 7:02 PM
How Finland Defeated Fascism in the 1930s. "A violent, conservative, political movement...almost pushed Finland into authoritarianism. But then something happened. They managed to stave off fascism, and they've remained a stable democracy ever since." [kottke.org]
Reposted by Tim Carmody
love to be looted by our criminal president
Trump: "I want to let you know that United States is going to make a contribution of $10 billion to the Board of Peace." (Congress has not appropriated this money!)
February 19, 2026 at 6:57 PM
love to be looted by our criminal president
Reposted by Tim Carmody
Once, technology solved problems. People liked having problems solved, so they liked technology.
Tech execs started to think of that sentiment as their due. So when they stopped solving problems, and people stopped liking them, they became outraged. "How dare you not love whatever we give you?"
Tech execs started to think of that sentiment as their due. So when they stopped solving problems, and people stopped liking them, they became outraged. "How dare you not love whatever we give you?"
I am a luddite and to me there is a lot of joy in technology. In technology that we deploy for all our wellbeing. Solar panels and vaccines, high-speed rail and wikipedia.
But they joy stems from the feeling of being able to be part of humanity in an embedded, meaningful way. Not from buying shit.
But they joy stems from the feeling of being able to be part of humanity in an embedded, meaningful way. Not from buying shit.
February 19, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Once, technology solved problems. People liked having problems solved, so they liked technology.
Tech execs started to think of that sentiment as their due. So when they stopped solving problems, and people stopped liking them, they became outraged. "How dare you not love whatever we give you?"
Tech execs started to think of that sentiment as their due. So when they stopped solving problems, and people stopped liking them, they became outraged. "How dare you not love whatever we give you?"
Reposted by Tim Carmody
One of the things that personally drives me crazy in the U.S. is how youth sports/athletic activities went from a part of the public good (municipal leagues and fields! rec centers! public parks!) to a privatized, expensive, highly competitive, highly structured pursuit for wealthy kids’ résumés
NBC ran a piece where Mary Carrillo went to Norway to find out why they're so good at the Winter Olympics and i was yelling BECAUSE IT'S COLD THERE
then she went to a little tiny ski jump for kids and was like "it's free, equipment is provided, & they don't emphasize results"
and i was like.
oh!
then she went to a little tiny ski jump for kids and was like "it's free, equipment is provided, & they don't emphasize results"
and i was like.
oh!
February 19, 2026 at 5:20 PM
One of the things that personally drives me crazy in the U.S. is how youth sports/athletic activities went from a part of the public good (municipal leagues and fields! rec centers! public parks!) to a privatized, expensive, highly competitive, highly structured pursuit for wealthy kids’ résumés
Reposted by Tim Carmody
February 19, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Italian Olympics announcers are the biggest homers ever, but they deserve to be. They’re so happy when the Italian athletes do anything, and they’re having great success at these hometown games. None of the “why aren’t the Americans winning every event?” condescension of the U.S. broadcasts.
February 19, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Italian Olympics announcers are the biggest homers ever, but they deserve to be. They’re so happy when the Italian athletes do anything, and they’re having great success at these hometown games. None of the “why aren’t the Americans winning every event?” condescension of the U.S. broadcasts.
“Better” how? and for whom?
Substack announces a partnership with Polymarket. “Journalism is better when it’s backed by live markets.”
February 19, 2026 at 1:47 PM
“Better” how? and for whom?
Reposted by Tim Carmody
It’s a cliché to say that of ad-supported software or media that “you are the product.” But I would argue that the correct and more radical formulation is “the advertiser is the customer.” This fact has all sorts of consequences that displaces the user even further from the center of the experience
February 19, 2026 at 10:47 AM
It’s a cliché to say that of ad-supported software or media that “you are the product.” But I would argue that the correct and more radical formulation is “the advertiser is the customer.” This fact has all sorts of consequences that displaces the user even further from the center of the experience
Some people can turn being lazy into an art form. The key is let go of the outcome. You can’t just try nothing — you have learn how to BE nothing, to let nothingness happen, like Lao Tse almost but didn’t quite get around to saying
February 19, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Some people can turn being lazy into an art form. The key is let go of the outcome. You can’t just try nothing — you have learn how to BE nothing, to let nothingness happen, like Lao Tse almost but didn’t quite get around to saying
Reposted by Tim Carmody
Getting shown up in the arena of elite impunity by *the British monarchy* is an incredible “America at 250!” achievement
February 19, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Getting shown up in the arena of elite impunity by *the British monarchy* is an incredible “America at 250!” achievement
Reposted by Tim Carmody
When reading any story about the painstaking restoration of a work of art by conservators (here, a gilded papyrus of the Egyptian Book of the Dead), I wait for the part where conservators describe how they had to undo the destructive work done by previous conservators, and it never fails to arrive.
February 19, 2026 at 12:25 PM
When reading any story about the painstaking restoration of a work of art by conservators (here, a gilded papyrus of the Egyptian Book of the Dead), I wait for the part where conservators describe how they had to undo the destructive work done by previous conservators, and it never fails to arrive.
The last senior royal to be arrested (before today’s arrest of the former Prince Andrew) was King Charles I
February 19, 2026 at 11:47 AM
The last senior royal to be arrested (before today’s arrest of the former Prince Andrew) was King Charles I
It’s a cliché to say that of ad-supported software or media that “you are the product.” But I would argue that the correct and more radical formulation is “the advertiser is the customer.” This fact has all sorts of consequences that displaces the user even further from the center of the experience
February 19, 2026 at 10:47 AM
It’s a cliché to say that of ad-supported software or media that “you are the product.” But I would argue that the correct and more radical formulation is “the advertiser is the customer.” This fact has all sorts of consequences that displaces the user even further from the center of the experience
Bye
The Gates Foundation says Bill Gates will not deliver his keynote at India's AI Summit after "careful consideration" amid controversy over his Epstein ties (Cherylann Mollan/BBC)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
February 19, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Bye
Reposted by Tim Carmody
BREAKING: The Department of Education has ended its directive that attempted to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in schools nationwide.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
February 18, 2026 at 5:39 PM
BREAKING: The Department of Education has ended its directive that attempted to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in schools nationwide.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
Reposted by Tim Carmody
Libraries are among the few public institutions that represent the kind of world we want to live in. They must be fought for.
February 18, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Libraries are among the few public institutions that represent the kind of world we want to live in. They must be fought for.
Reposted by Tim Carmody
Scoop: Ring's CEO told staff Search Party is not going to be just for dogs, according to a leaked email I obtained. Said it is "first for finding dogs" before suggesting it would be expanded to be used for crime:
www.404media.co/leaked-email...
www.404media.co/leaked-email...
Leaked Email Suggests Ring Plans to Expand ‘Search Party’ Surveillance Beyond Dogs
Ring's CEO told staff the feature is “first for finding dogs,” indicating a plan to expand.
www.404media.co
February 18, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Scoop: Ring's CEO told staff Search Party is not going to be just for dogs, according to a leaked email I obtained. Said it is "first for finding dogs" before suggesting it would be expanded to be used for crime:
www.404media.co/leaked-email...
www.404media.co/leaked-email...
Reposted by Tim Carmody
The judge is also stating that South Korean society as a whole has suffered immeasurable damage due to Yoon's insurrection, a cost that the entire nation must now bear.
February 19, 2026 at 6:57 AM
The judge is also stating that South Korean society as a whole has suffered immeasurable damage due to Yoon's insurrection, a cost that the entire nation must now bear.
Reposted by Tim Carmody
Kim Yong-hyun has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
February 19, 2026 at 7:03 AM
Kim Yong-hyun has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Reposted by Tim Carmody
Yoon Suk-yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
February 19, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Yoon Suk-yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Reposted by Tim Carmody
I hope New Yorkers will challenge Mamdani about this. Too often, people feel they need to be absolutely for or against a politician — ignoring their missteps or throwing them out with the bathwater. You can like and/or believe in someone and still challenge them to deliver on their promises.
Mayor Mamdani Breaks His Promise to NYC Public Libraries
The Struggle Against Defunding Libraries Continues...
prisonculture.substack.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:20 PM
I hope New Yorkers will challenge Mamdani about this. Too often, people feel they need to be absolutely for or against a politician — ignoring their missteps or throwing them out with the bathwater. You can like and/or believe in someone and still challenge them to deliver on their promises.
I come from hardy northern peoples, but you couldn’t pay me to do any of this Olympic stuff in skis. I’ve broken enough bones playing FUN sports
February 19, 2026 at 8:56 AM
I come from hardy northern peoples, but you couldn’t pay me to do any of this Olympic stuff in skis. I’ve broken enough bones playing FUN sports
It’s a talk show. We’ve reinvented the talk show.
(fwiw I called this whole ecosystem shift in my essay on Spotify for @niemanlab.org a little over eight years ago www.niemanlab.org/2017/12/watc...)
(fwiw I called this whole ecosystem shift in my essay on Spotify for @niemanlab.org a little over eight years ago www.niemanlab.org/2017/12/watc...)
February 19, 2026 at 7:56 AM
It’s a talk show. We’ve reinvented the talk show.
(fwiw I called this whole ecosystem shift in my essay on Spotify for @niemanlab.org a little over eight years ago www.niemanlab.org/2017/12/watc...)
(fwiw I called this whole ecosystem shift in my essay on Spotify for @niemanlab.org a little over eight years ago www.niemanlab.org/2017/12/watc...)