Alvin
@alvinthegray.bsky.social
A basic and aging veteran in the USA. Companion to a dog and a human. I like to be left alone, but I also like others to feel seen, heard, and respected. A comfortable room on Bluesky. As needed, speak the truths, give comfort, say no. Be better.
Good history is a truth, not the truth. All good history has power. We know this because telling the history of the USA from the perspectives of Native, African, Asian, female and gay Americans is so powerful that those histories inspire violent opposition from many powerful European Americans.
July 27, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Good history is a truth, not the truth. All good history has power. We know this because telling the history of the USA from the perspectives of Native, African, Asian, female and gay Americans is so powerful that those histories inspire violent opposition from many powerful European Americans.
Dress as you wish, change your pronouns, be vegan, knock naughty bits with whoever consents to the knocking . . . Those have nothing to do with what matters and what I insist on:
- Be productive, hold up your end.
- Don't hurt others thinking that'll make you more powerful.
- Know when to leave.
- Be productive, hold up your end.
- Don't hurt others thinking that'll make you more powerful.
- Know when to leave.
July 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Dress as you wish, change your pronouns, be vegan, knock naughty bits with whoever consents to the knocking . . . Those have nothing to do with what matters and what I insist on:
- Be productive, hold up your end.
- Don't hurt others thinking that'll make you more powerful.
- Know when to leave.
- Be productive, hold up your end.
- Don't hurt others thinking that'll make you more powerful.
- Know when to leave.
One of life's little joys: Showing somebody who's never seen it the 2014 "Prince" episode of "New Girl."
Season 3, episode 14, currently on Hulu.
Season 3, episode 14, currently on Hulu.
July 24, 2025 at 12:34 AM
One of life's little joys: Showing somebody who's never seen it the 2014 "Prince" episode of "New Girl."
Season 3, episode 14, currently on Hulu.
Season 3, episode 14, currently on Hulu.
Most have a hard time empathizing with masses, our brains don't easily do that. Empathy is mostly focused. Yet, open to the illusion-shattering realization that me/you/them--all one.
Some cannot empathize at all. Others are objects with values relative only to what can be taken from them.
Some cannot empathize at all. Others are objects with values relative only to what can be taken from them.
July 18, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Most have a hard time empathizing with masses, our brains don't easily do that. Empathy is mostly focused. Yet, open to the illusion-shattering realization that me/you/them--all one.
Some cannot empathize at all. Others are objects with values relative only to what can be taken from them.
Some cannot empathize at all. Others are objects with values relative only to what can be taken from them.
Of all the anti-USA atrocities upon the USA by Trump and his enablers, one is the worst: They've turned the USA into a citizenry that hates its fellow citizens. We are a land that hates itself.
It's not any more about news or memes or even being right. It's about seeing if we continue to exist.
It's not any more about news or memes or even being right. It's about seeing if we continue to exist.
July 18, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Of all the anti-USA atrocities upon the USA by Trump and his enablers, one is the worst: They've turned the USA into a citizenry that hates its fellow citizens. We are a land that hates itself.
It's not any more about news or memes or even being right. It's about seeing if we continue to exist.
It's not any more about news or memes or even being right. It's about seeing if we continue to exist.
In 2016, when Trump bragged about being famous enough to grab women by the crotch, it was not, as he defended, locker room talk. Neither is rape or writing a raunchy birthday letter to man who trafficked minors for sex. No moral people should excuse such sexual criminality by its chief executive.
July 17, 2025 at 11:38 PM
In 2016, when Trump bragged about being famous enough to grab women by the crotch, it was not, as he defended, locker room talk. Neither is rape or writing a raunchy birthday letter to man who trafficked minors for sex. No moral people should excuse such sexual criminality by its chief executive.
Because it's no longer too early to think about knocking out the holiday gift buying. Hand made in the USA by nice people who are not me:
www.etsy.com/shop/thewitc...
#woodcarving
#primitiveart
www.etsy.com/shop/thewitc...
#woodcarving
#primitiveart
July 16, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Because it's no longer too early to think about knocking out the holiday gift buying. Hand made in the USA by nice people who are not me:
www.etsy.com/shop/thewitc...
#woodcarving
#primitiveart
www.etsy.com/shop/thewitc...
#woodcarving
#primitiveart
The vast majority of stupid people aren't born stupid, aren't fated to become a stupid. When a human fails to or is denied experiences, perspectives and stories outside of what they already know, they risk becoming stupid. Their meager solace is that they die never knowing how stupid they were.
July 16, 2025 at 11:59 AM
The vast majority of stupid people aren't born stupid, aren't fated to become a stupid. When a human fails to or is denied experiences, perspectives and stories outside of what they already know, they risk becoming stupid. Their meager solace is that they die never knowing how stupid they were.
I miss boxy trucks that had regular cabs, locking hubs for four-wheel-drive, standard transmissions, vent windows (many of you won't know that one, see image), manual locks, and roll-down windows.
My 16-year-old truck has some of those and I cling to it for dear life.
There. I'm officially old.
My 16-year-old truck has some of those and I cling to it for dear life.
There. I'm officially old.
July 16, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I miss boxy trucks that had regular cabs, locking hubs for four-wheel-drive, standard transmissions, vent windows (many of you won't know that one, see image), manual locks, and roll-down windows.
My 16-year-old truck has some of those and I cling to it for dear life.
There. I'm officially old.
My 16-year-old truck has some of those and I cling to it for dear life.
There. I'm officially old.
Since I was a kid I've enjoyed horror movies. But when my nation became a horror show, new horror no longer brings catharsis. I find myself repeat-viewing the old, pre-Trump horror that I like. For new stuff, I may watch YouTube content that summarizes the plot, offers the highlights. It's enough.
July 15, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Since I was a kid I've enjoyed horror movies. But when my nation became a horror show, new horror no longer brings catharsis. I find myself repeat-viewing the old, pre-Trump horror that I like. For new stuff, I may watch YouTube content that summarizes the plot, offers the highlights. It's enough.
My mind keeps going to the regular people of Warsaw in 1938, Moscow in 1913, Tenochtitlan in 1518, Rome in 409... Millions of people who had no idea that their ways of life, senses of self and identity, all taken for granted and thought permanent, would soon be mutilated and wiped out.
July 14, 2025 at 1:15 PM
My mind keeps going to the regular people of Warsaw in 1938, Moscow in 1913, Tenochtitlan in 1518, Rome in 409... Millions of people who had no idea that their ways of life, senses of self and identity, all taken for granted and thought permanent, would soon be mutilated and wiped out.
In all of recorded human history, virtually every human and human achievement that we learn about, explore and celebrate depended upon people's ability to meaningfully cultivate, harvest and obtain the fruits of a humble grain or grass. Fail in that, ruin and collapse surely follow.
July 14, 2025 at 11:29 AM
In all of recorded human history, virtually every human and human achievement that we learn about, explore and celebrate depended upon people's ability to meaningfully cultivate, harvest and obtain the fruits of a humble grain or grass. Fail in that, ruin and collapse surely follow.
A great loss in all of this is the sense that we are the good guys. The USA has stumbled, behaved horribly at times, made many mistakes. But through all of it, we could hold on to our faith that the USA corrects itself, it wants to tend toward good while keeping all of its people safe.
All gone.
All gone.
July 12, 2025 at 3:42 PM
A great loss in all of this is the sense that we are the good guys. The USA has stumbled, behaved horribly at times, made many mistakes. But through all of it, we could hold on to our faith that the USA corrects itself, it wants to tend toward good while keeping all of its people safe.
All gone.
All gone.
AI-generated images will be this generation's "dogs playing poker." Once pop-charming, soon hopelessly dated and suitable only for ironic display.
July 10, 2025 at 1:44 AM
AI-generated images will be this generation's "dogs playing poker." Once pop-charming, soon hopelessly dated and suitable only for ironic display.
Trump routinely demonizes and threatens his enemies. He's built an administration that echoes and supports his will. Deportations, imprisonments, suffering, deaths, military patrolling US cities...
Musk's Grok is a minnow by comparison.
But it all makes hatred and violence normal, OK, expected.
Musk's Grok is a minnow by comparison.
But it all makes hatred and violence normal, OK, expected.
July 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Trump routinely demonizes and threatens his enemies. He's built an administration that echoes and supports his will. Deportations, imprisonments, suffering, deaths, military patrolling US cities...
Musk's Grok is a minnow by comparison.
But it all makes hatred and violence normal, OK, expected.
Musk's Grok is a minnow by comparison.
But it all makes hatred and violence normal, OK, expected.
Yes, Trump will go. But, as you read this, culture is changing. In 2025 we've lived through erosion of the Constitution, rule of law, and separation of federal powers. Right now, youth grows in a vastly different USA than you knew.
Normal is relative. Trump will go. The culture he builds may not.
Normal is relative. Trump will go. The culture he builds may not.
July 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Yes, Trump will go. But, as you read this, culture is changing. In 2025 we've lived through erosion of the Constitution, rule of law, and separation of federal powers. Right now, youth grows in a vastly different USA than you knew.
Normal is relative. Trump will go. The culture he builds may not.
Normal is relative. Trump will go. The culture he builds may not.
"You are perverse."
Said to me by a friend who has often told me that I don't smile enough. She entered, I looked at her, smiled. "Why are you smiling?" she asked. My smile widened. "We live in uncertain times. I figure a smile is reassuring."
Her above response turned smiles into laughter.
Said to me by a friend who has often told me that I don't smile enough. She entered, I looked at her, smiled. "Why are you smiling?" she asked. My smile widened. "We live in uncertain times. I figure a smile is reassuring."
Her above response turned smiles into laughter.
July 8, 2025 at 1:34 PM
"You are perverse."
Said to me by a friend who has often told me that I don't smile enough. She entered, I looked at her, smiled. "Why are you smiling?" she asked. My smile widened. "We live in uncertain times. I figure a smile is reassuring."
Her above response turned smiles into laughter.
Said to me by a friend who has often told me that I don't smile enough. She entered, I looked at her, smiled. "Why are you smiling?" she asked. My smile widened. "We live in uncertain times. I figure a smile is reassuring."
Her above response turned smiles into laughter.
Pop media prepared us to know what we've become.
Then reality TV convinced us to celebrate villainy, make heroes of liars, the cruel.
We now tend toward bad, not good. We now celebrate or tolerate the worst in human nature.
Trump will end.
The evil will not. We've developed a taste for it.
Then reality TV convinced us to celebrate villainy, make heroes of liars, the cruel.
We now tend toward bad, not good. We now celebrate or tolerate the worst in human nature.
Trump will end.
The evil will not. We've developed a taste for it.
July 2, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Pop media prepared us to know what we've become.
Then reality TV convinced us to celebrate villainy, make heroes of liars, the cruel.
We now tend toward bad, not good. We now celebrate or tolerate the worst in human nature.
Trump will end.
The evil will not. We've developed a taste for it.
Then reality TV convinced us to celebrate villainy, make heroes of liars, the cruel.
We now tend toward bad, not good. We now celebrate or tolerate the worst in human nature.
Trump will end.
The evil will not. We've developed a taste for it.
Remember, the Nazis did not begin with mass murder of Jewish people. They began with calling Jews criminal enemies of the state. They made other Germans feel it safest to nod or be quiet, look away. They purged the courts. They deported and detained. Only later, mass murder.
Current history rhymes.
Current history rhymes.
June 21, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Remember, the Nazis did not begin with mass murder of Jewish people. They began with calling Jews criminal enemies of the state. They made other Germans feel it safest to nod or be quiet, look away. They purged the courts. They deported and detained. Only later, mass murder.
Current history rhymes.
Current history rhymes.
Historically, it's never gone well for Westerners who fight Near East people on their own turf. Want an empire? You can have one, for a while. Want to change regimes, maybe ideologies? You may get the former, never the latter. And then your curated regime topples. And the grandkids start over.
June 18, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Historically, it's never gone well for Westerners who fight Near East people on their own turf. Want an empire? You can have one, for a while. Want to change regimes, maybe ideologies? You may get the former, never the latter. And then your curated regime topples. And the grandkids start over.
Because sometimes when the world feels unfamiliar and malevolent, it's nice to contemplate something made with human hands. Something pleasing, whimsical, warming.
Not my business. I just like the stuff and the creator is good guy.
#woodcarving
#primitiveart
Not my business. I just like the stuff and the creator is good guy.
#woodcarving
#primitiveart
June 17, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Because sometimes when the world feels unfamiliar and malevolent, it's nice to contemplate something made with human hands. Something pleasing, whimsical, warming.
Not my business. I just like the stuff and the creator is good guy.
#woodcarving
#primitiveart
Not my business. I just like the stuff and the creator is good guy.
#woodcarving
#primitiveart
An imperfect man and USA President.
Never guilty of the conspiracies aimed at him, never a felon, never needed to violate the Constitution and order military parades on his birthday to serve his ego and prop up his image.
Never guilty of the conspiracies aimed at him, never a felon, never needed to violate the Constitution and order military parades on his birthday to serve his ego and prop up his image.
June 14, 2025 at 2:25 PM
An imperfect man and USA President.
Never guilty of the conspiracies aimed at him, never a felon, never needed to violate the Constitution and order military parades on his birthday to serve his ego and prop up his image.
Never guilty of the conspiracies aimed at him, never a felon, never needed to violate the Constitution and order military parades on his birthday to serve his ego and prop up his image.
Friday the 13th is one of my favorite days in the calendar. I'm old enough to remember when it was simply a bad luck day based on cultural notions related to numerology and Friday's suspect impacts of humanity's well-being. In this age, it's also now related to "Ki-ki-ki, mah-mah-mah."
Good stuff.
Good stuff.
June 13, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Friday the 13th is one of my favorite days in the calendar. I'm old enough to remember when it was simply a bad luck day based on cultural notions related to numerology and Friday's suspect impacts of humanity's well-being. In this age, it's also now related to "Ki-ki-ki, mah-mah-mah."
Good stuff.
Good stuff.
Why is "Andor" one of the best Star Wars stories in the franchise?
- Creator not a fanboy.
- Grown-up characters, situations, and dialogue.
- Zero fanboy service.
- Non-formulaic story.
- Practical effects and sets.
- No lightsabers.
It can happen.
Next, HBO's rehash of "Harry Potter."
(sigh)
- Creator not a fanboy.
- Grown-up characters, situations, and dialogue.
- Zero fanboy service.
- Non-formulaic story.
- Practical effects and sets.
- No lightsabers.
It can happen.
Next, HBO's rehash of "Harry Potter."
(sigh)
May 23, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Why is "Andor" one of the best Star Wars stories in the franchise?
- Creator not a fanboy.
- Grown-up characters, situations, and dialogue.
- Zero fanboy service.
- Non-formulaic story.
- Practical effects and sets.
- No lightsabers.
It can happen.
Next, HBO's rehash of "Harry Potter."
(sigh)
- Creator not a fanboy.
- Grown-up characters, situations, and dialogue.
- Zero fanboy service.
- Non-formulaic story.
- Practical effects and sets.
- No lightsabers.
It can happen.
Next, HBO's rehash of "Harry Potter."
(sigh)
Most things we value have no actual value except that which we give to them:
Money...
Gods...
The Constitution and Bill of Rights of the USA...
Without our belief in, use and defense of them, they have no value.
What do you value? What are your values? Good to check in on those now and then.
Money...
Gods...
The Constitution and Bill of Rights of the USA...
Without our belief in, use and defense of them, they have no value.
What do you value? What are your values? Good to check in on those now and then.
May 23, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Most things we value have no actual value except that which we give to them:
Money...
Gods...
The Constitution and Bill of Rights of the USA...
Without our belief in, use and defense of them, they have no value.
What do you value? What are your values? Good to check in on those now and then.
Money...
Gods...
The Constitution and Bill of Rights of the USA...
Without our belief in, use and defense of them, they have no value.
What do you value? What are your values? Good to check in on those now and then.