Sam Bergman
@violanorth.bsky.social
musician, arts administrator, Quaker, baker, Granite Stater; he/him
"A curmudgeonly joy" — @doodlyroses.com
"Fancy with an element of surprise" — @dalanie.bsky.social
"A curmudgeonly joy" — @doodlyroses.com
"Fancy with an element of surprise" — @dalanie.bsky.social
Pinned
Sam Bergman
@violanorth.bsky.social
· Apr 29
Almost my only life goal at this point is to slowly age into the guy who shows up at the general store every morning for black coffee and then sits at one of the two tables making uninvited conversation with anyone who walks in for three hours.
Hmm. Wonder how they chose the 1850s as the cutoff point. Something happen in the 1860s?
These guys...
Andreesen said in an interview I heard that there's been "no new information in the Classics since the 1850s" and the amount of stupidity in that is wild. Just wild.
Andreesen said in an interview I heard that there's been "no new information in the Classics since the 1850s" and the amount of stupidity in that is wild. Just wild.
November 11, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Hmm. Wonder how they chose the 1850s as the cutoff point. Something happen in the 1860s?
Yeah, this is the thing. You can take a stand on principle if you want, but you'd better know your own state's rules first.
Hey, a lot of people are talking about changing affiliation from Democratic to Independent.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
November 11, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Yeah, this is the thing. You can take a stand on principle if you want, but you'd better know your own state's rules first.
Me, earlier today: yeah, Minnesotans pretty much love to nerd out over the Edmund Fitzgerald
Rando in my mentions: It's not just Minnesotans! Lots of people are interested in shipwrecks.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota:
Rando in my mentions: It's not just Minnesotans! Lots of people are interested in shipwrecks.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota:
Hundreds honored the 29 men who perished aboard the Edmund Fitzgerald in a ceremony along the North Shore marking the tragedy’s 50th anniversary.
The historic beacon at Split Rock Lighthouse, which the famous ship passed on its final trip, was lit for the occasion.
Photos by Alex Kormann
The historic beacon at Split Rock Lighthouse, which the famous ship passed on its final trip, was lit for the occasion.
Photos by Alex Kormann
November 11, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Me, earlier today: yeah, Minnesotans pretty much love to nerd out over the Edmund Fitzgerald
Rando in my mentions: It's not just Minnesotans! Lots of people are interested in shipwrecks.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota:
Rando in my mentions: It's not just Minnesotans! Lots of people are interested in shipwrecks.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota:
Reposted by Sam Bergman
Once I told a teacher I didn’t have my algebra homework because the gales of November came early. She failed me, which was very disrespectful to the sailors lost that day.
November 11, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Once I told a teacher I didn’t have my algebra homework because the gales of November came early. She failed me, which was very disrespectful to the sailors lost that day.
Reposted by Sam Bergman
I am often frustrated by comfortable true blue democratic voters who don’t understand why so many millions of people have given up on the party.
LOOK AT IT.
LOOK AT IT.
November 11, 2025 at 3:00 AM
I am often frustrated by comfortable true blue democratic voters who don’t understand why so many millions of people have given up on the party.
LOOK AT IT.
LOOK AT IT.
Reposted by Sam Bergman
Remember 25 years ago when a photo was taken of a fed pointing a gun at a crying refugee child and the image was so shameful it dominated the news cycle for a year
November 11, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Remember 25 years ago when a photo was taken of a fed pointing a gun at a crying refugee child and the image was so shameful it dominated the news cycle for a year
Reposted by Sam Bergman
demanding a famous folk singer write a moving ballad about the time I fell ass first into an ice fishing hole
November 11, 2025 at 2:08 AM
demanding a famous folk singer write a moving ballad about the time I fell ass first into an ice fishing hole
Reposted by Sam Bergman
The exchange between the Coast Guard and the Arthur M. Anderson on the night the Edmund Fitzgerald went down is one of my Roman Empires — asking the Anderson to come about and search, and Captain Cooper saying yes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyaE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyaE...
The Lost Fitzgerald Search Tapes
Rare radio chatter between the Arthur M. Anderson and the Coast Guard November 10th, 1975. The last time anyone ever heard from the Edmund Fitzgerald
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2023 at 1:04 PM
The exchange between the Coast Guard and the Arthur M. Anderson on the night the Edmund Fitzgerald went down is one of my Roman Empires — asking the Anderson to come about and search, and Captain Cooper saying yes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyaE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyaE...
Reposted by Sam Bergman
Meanwhile, people unconstitutionally seized or brutalized by ICE agents can’t sue them because there’s no private right of action for them to do that.
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Shutdown Deal Would Let Senators Sue Over Jack Smith Searches
Senators whose phone records were sought by Special Counsel Jack Smith would gain authority to sue for millions in damages under a provision buried in the Senate-advanced deal to reopen the government...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Meanwhile, people unconstitutionally seized or brutalized by ICE agents can’t sue them because there’s no private right of action for them to do that.
"mistaken for criminals"
“A plainclothes ICE agent pointed his gun at a female driver in Santa Ana…The incident is one of many nationwide raising concerns about plainclothes agents being mistaken for criminals and visa versa, prompting the FBI to urge proper identification.” www.latimes.com/california/s...
Fullerton police stop man pointing gun at female driver, only to learn he is ICE agent
A Fullerton police officer told the agent he couldn't help 'with someone following or recording him if no crime had occurred.' Under state law, local police cannot enforce federal immigration law.
www.latimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:24 PM
"mistaken for criminals"
Making my way through this extraordinary interview between @garthgreenwell.bsky.social and Brandon Taylor while I should be working, and this paragraph, about all the things that cut people off from each other, absolutely hit me in the face.
November 10, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Making my way through this extraordinary interview between @garthgreenwell.bsky.social and Brandon Taylor while I should be working, and this paragraph, about all the things that cut people off from each other, absolutely hit me in the face.
Ohhhhh, this right here is a literary convo I've been waiting for...
I thought Brandon might go easy on me at @strandbookstore.bsky.social a couple of weeks ago, but no luck: he came out swinging. We talk about ambient violence, art as individualizing, why we (sorry!) still need Heidegger, etc. Free post, no paywall. garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/a-conversa...
November 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Ohhhhh, this right here is a literary convo I've been waiting for...
Reposting this for all the nerds in Minnesota who will vibrate with excitement today for any mention of gales and November.
Gale Warning issued November 10 at 12:12PM EST until November 12 at 7:00AM EST by NWS Gray ME
Additional Details Here.
Additional Details Here.
November 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposting this for all the nerds in Minnesota who will vibrate with excitement today for any mention of gales and November.
Reposted by Sam Bergman
There’s been a lot of ink spilled on QAnon and its effect on Trump’s base, and rightfully so. We need to have the same lens applied here, considering the broad buy-in to the idea that there is no organic support for the Palestinian people by our political, academic, and media elite.
November 10, 2025 at 5:15 PM
There’s been a lot of ink spilled on QAnon and its effect on Trump’s base, and rightfully so. We need to have the same lens applied here, considering the broad buy-in to the idea that there is no organic support for the Palestinian people by our political, academic, and media elite.
One of the glaring weaknesses of the US system, where elections are on a consistent schedule rather than determined by events, is really on full display right now: pols take actions that might hurt them with voters when elections are a long ways off, knowing that the electorate has a short memory.
November 10, 2025 at 4:04 PM
One of the glaring weaknesses of the US system, where elections are on a consistent schedule rather than determined by events, is really on full display right now: pols take actions that might hurt them with voters when elections are a long ways off, knowing that the electorate has a short memory.
Reposted by Sam Bergman
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. https://to.pbs.org/4qSZcNU
Supreme Court rejects call to overturn decadeold same-sex marriage decision
The justices turned away an appeal from Kim Davis, the former Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the high court's 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges...
www.pbs.org
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. https://to.pbs.org/4qSZcNU
Reposted by Sam Bergman
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
March 14, 2025 at 10:24 PM
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
Reposted by Sam Bergman
Gotta be honest, you guys: when I saw this picture of the Border Patrol Commander, I thought it was bad AI.
November 10, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Gotta be honest, you guys: when I saw this picture of the Border Patrol Commander, I thought it was bad AI.
Reposted by Sam Bergman
"but I am le tired" ass caucus
weirdly honest messaging from the breakaway mod/institutionalist leaders who blew up the party strategy
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
November 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
"but I am le tired" ass caucus
Reposted by Sam Bergman
well bully for canada. lucky ol canada
Did you know that in Canada, if a budget doesn’t pass the government doesn’t shut down?
Federal workers aren’t furloughed.
Funding for social services doesn’t dry up.
Failure to pass a budget triggers an election.
It puts the politicians jobs on the line.
They get the budget passed.
Federal workers aren’t furloughed.
Funding for social services doesn’t dry up.
Failure to pass a budget triggers an election.
It puts the politicians jobs on the line.
They get the budget passed.
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
well bully for canada. lucky ol canada
Reposted by Sam Bergman
I missed the cutoff for health insurance through SFUSD by exactly four working days last year. I am about to have to grovel to an UNBELIEVABLE degree trying to get them to flex on that, because the alternative may well be "100% of average monthly income is health insurance and rent" or worse
Reminder that, unless a creative freelancer has a spouse with a day job that offers health insurance, they likely have an ACA plan. And with the hits to creative industries the past few years, I'm guessing many qualify for subsidies.
Related reminder that comic creators are freelancers.
Related reminder that comic creators are freelancers.
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 6:06 AM
I missed the cutoff for health insurance through SFUSD by exactly four working days last year. I am about to have to grovel to an UNBELIEVABLE degree trying to get them to flex on that, because the alternative may well be "100% of average monthly income is health insurance and rent" or worse
Reposted by Sam Bergman
if only there were some simple way to determine the veracity of this claim
Shaheen: So let me be clear. No one in the senate chamber wants to extend the ACA tax credits more than I do.
November 10, 2025 at 3:00 AM
if only there were some simple way to determine the veracity of this claim
This is one of the more frustrating to watch Minnesota Wild teams in recent memory.
November 10, 2025 at 1:31 AM
This is one of the more frustrating to watch Minnesota Wild teams in recent memory.
How I enter a room
November 10, 2025 at 12:51 AM
How I enter a room
Reposted by Sam Bergman
There’s no one I trust less than Donald Trump and Mike Johnson.
Any deal that relies on Republicans to keep their word is a bad one.
Democrats can’t give up on affordable health care for an empty promise. Minnesotans can’t afford for Democrats to cave.
Any deal that relies on Republicans to keep their word is a bad one.
Democrats can’t give up on affordable health care for an empty promise. Minnesotans can’t afford for Democrats to cave.
November 9, 2025 at 11:38 PM
There’s no one I trust less than Donald Trump and Mike Johnson.
Any deal that relies on Republicans to keep their word is a bad one.
Democrats can’t give up on affordable health care for an empty promise. Minnesotans can’t afford for Democrats to cave.
Any deal that relies on Republicans to keep their word is a bad one.
Democrats can’t give up on affordable health care for an empty promise. Minnesotans can’t afford for Democrats to cave.