Bertis Downs
@bertisdowns.bsky.social
Good schools for all kids, public education Warrior, Davidson Wildcat and GSW fan. Democracy isn’t a spectator sport. bertisdowns.com
Lucky enough to spend some blessed time in Scotland the past couple of weeks, and a little in London, Wales and Dublin.
Back during lockdown, I often dreamed of that part of the world and realized my internal soundtrack was so many Scottish bands….so I made a playlist:|
berto.fyi/Mayhap
Back during lockdown, I often dreamed of that part of the world and realized my internal soundtrack was so many Scottish bands….so I made a playlist:|
berto.fyi/Mayhap
August 31, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Lucky enough to spend some blessed time in Scotland the past couple of weeks, and a little in London, Wales and Dublin.
Back during lockdown, I often dreamed of that part of the world and realized my internal soundtrack was so many Scottish bands….so I made a playlist:|
berto.fyi/Mayhap
Back during lockdown, I often dreamed of that part of the world and realized my internal soundtrack was so many Scottish bands….so I made a playlist:|
berto.fyi/Mayhap
August 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
July 31: Happy Birthday Bill Berry: the man, the legend, the stalwart and a whole lot more
Photo by Anton Corbijn, St Paul de Vence, 🇫🇷 Sept 1994
Bill “I was looking at Roger Moore, 007 when Anton grabbed that. You might recall that the suave secret agent often took his meals at La Colombe d’Or”
Photo by Anton Corbijn, St Paul de Vence, 🇫🇷 Sept 1994
Bill “I was looking at Roger Moore, 007 when Anton grabbed that. You might recall that the suave secret agent often took his meals at La Colombe d’Or”
July 31, 2025 at 6:22 PM
July 31: Happy Birthday Bill Berry: the man, the legend, the stalwart and a whole lot more
Photo by Anton Corbijn, St Paul de Vence, 🇫🇷 Sept 1994
Bill “I was looking at Roger Moore, 007 when Anton grabbed that. You might recall that the suave secret agent often took his meals at La Colombe d’Or”
Photo by Anton Corbijn, St Paul de Vence, 🇫🇷 Sept 1994
Bill “I was looking at Roger Moore, 007 when Anton grabbed that. You might recall that the suave secret agent often took his meals at La Colombe d’Or”
All kidding aside, the upcoming jailhouse private meeting of the #2 official in the Dept of Justice and the convicted felon Maxwell is very very strange, at best. What could they possibly be up to?
July 24, 2025 at 1:29 PM
All kidding aside, the upcoming jailhouse private meeting of the #2 official in the Dept of Justice and the convicted felon Maxwell is very very strange, at best. What could they possibly be up to?
The jokes in the headlines today:
“Trump taps Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to be interim NASA chief”
“Social Security pulls field office staff to answer overwhelmed phone line”
“Trump praises English-speaking Liberian president’s English”
“Want Medicaid coverage? Go pick some vegetables”
“Trump taps Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to be interim NASA chief”
“Social Security pulls field office staff to answer overwhelmed phone line”
“Trump praises English-speaking Liberian president’s English”
“Want Medicaid coverage? Go pick some vegetables”
July 10, 2025 at 12:14 PM
The jokes in the headlines today:
“Trump taps Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to be interim NASA chief”
“Social Security pulls field office staff to answer overwhelmed phone line”
“Trump praises English-speaking Liberian president’s English”
“Want Medicaid coverage? Go pick some vegetables”
“Trump taps Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to be interim NASA chief”
“Social Security pulls field office staff to answer overwhelmed phone line”
“Trump praises English-speaking Liberian president’s English”
“Want Medicaid coverage? Go pick some vegetables”
So good last weekend— Robert Smith and Olivia Rodrigo and her band of kids making Just Like Heaven sound as new and fresh and wonderful as ever:
berto.fyi/justlikeheav...
Robert seemed to have fun but I think the 20-somethings were even more chuffed!
berto.fyi/justlikeheav...
Robert seemed to have fun but I think the 20-somethings were even more chuffed!
July 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
So good last weekend— Robert Smith and Olivia Rodrigo and her band of kids making Just Like Heaven sound as new and fresh and wonderful as ever:
berto.fyi/justlikeheav...
Robert seemed to have fun but I think the 20-somethings were even more chuffed!
berto.fyi/justlikeheav...
Robert seemed to have fun but I think the 20-somethings were even more chuffed!
One of the best of the underrated @R.E.M. albums at the turn of the century…. the album itself, the promotour (Cologne Cathedral and Trafalgar Square with Nelson Mandela, among other highlights), the videos, the one for All the Way to Reno a personal favorite…. I could go on. I love this album
May 14, 2025 at 3:38 PM
One of the best of the underrated @R.E.M. albums at the turn of the century…. the album itself, the promotour (Cologne Cathedral and Trafalgar Square with Nelson Mandela, among other highlights), the videos, the one for All the Way to Reno a personal favorite…. I could go on. I love this album
A particularly thoughtful analysis of the state of the nation right now by one of the best columnists working for a major newspaper in America, Will Bunch
April 8, 2025 at 2:47 AM
A particularly thoughtful analysis of the state of the nation right now by one of the best columnists working for a major newspaper in America, Will Bunch
Great story from NPR, words and music, and altogether the story… #REM45 on Saturday, a busy day in Belgium and the United States and everywhere else for that matter
berto.fyi/43AddqR
berto.fyi/43AddqR
April 4, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Great story from NPR, words and music, and altogether the story… #REM45 on Saturday, a busy day in Belgium and the United States and everywhere else for that matter
berto.fyi/43AddqR
berto.fyi/43AddqR
Are you attending an INDIVISIBLE “Hands Off” rally on Saturday? Where?
The premise:
“Our democracy is under threat. But we will not yield to fascism….”
Expecting crowds everywhere…. big cities, small towns. I’m curious to see how this will go — peacefully, effectively, I hope 🙏
handsoff2025.com
The premise:
“Our democracy is under threat. But we will not yield to fascism….”
Expecting crowds everywhere…. big cities, small towns. I’m curious to see how this will go — peacefully, effectively, I hope 🙏
handsoff2025.com
April 3, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Are you attending an INDIVISIBLE “Hands Off” rally on Saturday? Where?
The premise:
“Our democracy is under threat. But we will not yield to fascism….”
Expecting crowds everywhere…. big cities, small towns. I’m curious to see how this will go — peacefully, effectively, I hope 🙏
handsoff2025.com
The premise:
“Our democracy is under threat. But we will not yield to fascism….”
Expecting crowds everywhere…. big cities, small towns. I’m curious to see how this will go — peacefully, effectively, I hope 🙏
handsoff2025.com
WIRED:
The US is not in the business of selling spectacle. Its value lies in its reliability. Instead it is now erratic, unpredictable. It’s messy. International politics is a relationship business; Donald Trump seems intent on undermining America’s relationships at every turn.
berto.fyi/4kW3L7w
The US is not in the business of selling spectacle. Its value lies in its reliability. Instead it is now erratic, unpredictable. It’s messy. International politics is a relationship business; Donald Trump seems intent on undermining America’s relationships at every turn.
berto.fyi/4kW3L7w
March 23, 2025 at 12:44 PM
WIRED:
The US is not in the business of selling spectacle. Its value lies in its reliability. Instead it is now erratic, unpredictable. It’s messy. International politics is a relationship business; Donald Trump seems intent on undermining America’s relationships at every turn.
berto.fyi/4kW3L7w
The US is not in the business of selling spectacle. Its value lies in its reliability. Instead it is now erratic, unpredictable. It’s messy. International politics is a relationship business; Donald Trump seems intent on undermining America’s relationships at every turn.
berto.fyi/4kW3L7w
Kari Lake does the dirty work today
“The Iranian ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years,” Stephen Capus, President RFE/RL
Easier to destroy things than to build up.
Agence France-Presse
berto.fyi/3Rigy6h
“The Iranian ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years,” Stephen Capus, President RFE/RL
Easier to destroy things than to build up.
Agence France-Presse
berto.fyi/3Rigy6h
March 16, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Kari Lake does the dirty work today
“The Iranian ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years,” Stephen Capus, President RFE/RL
Easier to destroy things than to build up.
Agence France-Presse
berto.fyi/3Rigy6h
“The Iranian ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years,” Stephen Capus, President RFE/RL
Easier to destroy things than to build up.
Agence France-Presse
berto.fyi/3Rigy6h
Just listening on my phone to Spotify and dialed up Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones… and then Spotify went all playlist for half an hour, more Stones, some Led Zeppelin, David Bowie even some R.E.M. And then I came up on a #TeslaTakedown protest. The phone was playing Sympathy for the Devil! 🎸🚙🤣
March 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Just listening on my phone to Spotify and dialed up Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones… and then Spotify went all playlist for half an hour, more Stones, some Led Zeppelin, David Bowie even some R.E.M. And then I came up on a #TeslaTakedown protest. The phone was playing Sympathy for the Devil! 🎸🚙🤣
According to a radio expert: “when in doubt, just play Bob Marley or R.E.M.”
Boston tonight, Brooklyn tomorrow, finishing up strong in the Midwest next week. The fables have been well reconstructed by these guys, the “British Isles” coming in August @jasonnarducy.bsky.social
berto.fyi/4i94v79
Boston tonight, Brooklyn tomorrow, finishing up strong in the Midwest next week. The fables have been well reconstructed by these guys, the “British Isles” coming in August @jasonnarducy.bsky.social
berto.fyi/4i94v79
March 7, 2025 at 6:02 PM
According to a radio expert: “when in doubt, just play Bob Marley or R.E.M.”
Boston tonight, Brooklyn tomorrow, finishing up strong in the Midwest next week. The fables have been well reconstructed by these guys, the “British Isles” coming in August @jasonnarducy.bsky.social
berto.fyi/4i94v79
Boston tonight, Brooklyn tomorrow, finishing up strong in the Midwest next week. The fables have been well reconstructed by these guys, the “British Isles” coming in August @jasonnarducy.bsky.social
berto.fyi/4i94v79
Sitting Still at the 9:30 club in Washington DC, with Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy, and friends reconstructing the fables. Forty years on and the music still brings joy, especially in the hands of these super-talented musicians, on a night like this in the nation’s capitol.
March 5, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Sitting Still at the 9:30 club in Washington DC, with Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy, and friends reconstructing the fables. Forty years on and the music still brings joy, especially in the hands of these super-talented musicians, on a night like this in the nation’s capitol.
No other place I’d rather Washington DC tonight than right here at the 9:30 Club.
Rocking and joyous rockshow reconstructing the fables 🙏🏼🎸 @jasonnarducy.bsky.social @jonwurster.bsky.social
Rocking and joyous rockshow reconstructing the fables 🙏🏼🎸 @jasonnarducy.bsky.social @jonwurster.bsky.social
March 5, 2025 at 3:55 AM
No other place I’d rather Washington DC tonight than right here at the 9:30 Club.
Rocking and joyous rockshow reconstructing the fables 🙏🏼🎸 @jasonnarducy.bsky.social @jonwurster.bsky.social
Rocking and joyous rockshow reconstructing the fables 🙏🏼🎸 @jasonnarducy.bsky.social @jonwurster.bsky.social
A message to the neofeudalists in Washington and Moscow— Americans support, freedom and democracy, not Putin 🇺🇦
March 1, 2025 at 4:16 PM
A message to the neofeudalists in Washington and Moscow— Americans support, freedom and democracy, not Putin 🇺🇦
Welcome to Athens Michael and Jason and friends.
Reconstruction of the fables, indeed!
Tonight‘s the night! And they are only halfway through the tour— coming soon to you I hope!
(Photo by Katherine Downs)
berto.fyi/fablemen
Reconstruction of the fables, indeed!
Tonight‘s the night! And they are only halfway through the tour— coming soon to you I hope!
(Photo by Katherine Downs)
berto.fyi/fablemen
February 27, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Welcome to Athens Michael and Jason and friends.
Reconstruction of the fables, indeed!
Tonight‘s the night! And they are only halfway through the tour— coming soon to you I hope!
(Photo by Katherine Downs)
berto.fyi/fablemen
Reconstruction of the fables, indeed!
Tonight‘s the night! And they are only halfway through the tour— coming soon to you I hope!
(Photo by Katherine Downs)
berto.fyi/fablemen
February 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
A little doggerel on a stormy Monday:
There once was a rich guy named Musk
With a manner ungraceful, quite brusque
He was good at some things, not so at others
And Americans actually turned out to have druthers
When his boneheaded coup turned right into a putsch
There once was a rich guy named Musk
With a manner ungraceful, quite brusque
He was good at some things, not so at others
And Americans actually turned out to have druthers
When his boneheaded coup turned right into a putsch
February 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
A little doggerel on a stormy Monday:
There once was a rich guy named Musk
With a manner ungraceful, quite brusque
He was good at some things, not so at others
And Americans actually turned out to have druthers
When his boneheaded coup turned right into a putsch
There once was a rich guy named Musk
With a manner ungraceful, quite brusque
He was good at some things, not so at others
And Americans actually turned out to have druthers
When his boneheaded coup turned right into a putsch
Kind of kidding, kind of not… my sleep-deprived attempt to retain perspective after reading this amazing article in Foreign Affairs— find it, read it, brace for it 🙏🏼
The Path to American Authoritarianism
What Comes After Democratic Breakdown
By Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way
berto.fyi/430zNsd
The Path to American Authoritarianism
What Comes After Democratic Breakdown
By Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way
berto.fyi/430zNsd
February 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Kind of kidding, kind of not… my sleep-deprived attempt to retain perspective after reading this amazing article in Foreign Affairs— find it, read it, brace for it 🙏🏼
The Path to American Authoritarianism
What Comes After Democratic Breakdown
By Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way
berto.fyi/430zNsd
The Path to American Authoritarianism
What Comes After Democratic Breakdown
By Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way
berto.fyi/430zNsd
Seasonal window at TATTE, downtown DC – – young guy, sitting there inside, he’s wide awake in America.
Gotta agree with The Dude: this aggression will not stand man!
Gotta agree with The Dude: this aggression will not stand man!
February 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Seasonal window at TATTE, downtown DC – – young guy, sitting there inside, he’s wide awake in America.
Gotta agree with The Dude: this aggression will not stand man!
Gotta agree with The Dude: this aggression will not stand man!
I’m told US Capitol switchboard is swamped and that it’s better for us constituents to call rather than than emailing or writing a letter. Call and leave a message, talk to an intern, whatever is on offer, but the volume of communication, is noted and it matters. 202.224.3121 ☎️
We live in hope!
We live in hope!
February 11, 2025 at 3:37 PM
I’m told US Capitol switchboard is swamped and that it’s better for us constituents to call rather than than emailing or writing a letter. Call and leave a message, talk to an intern, whatever is on offer, but the volume of communication, is noted and it matters. 202.224.3121 ☎️
We live in hope!
We live in hope!
What’s the old proverb, “you never miss the water till the well runs dry”?
February 9, 2025 at 7:07 PM
What’s the old proverb, “you never miss the water till the well runs dry”?
In five years of reading the Letters from an American newsletters by @heathercoxrichardson, I don’t recall her ever devoting so much of an essay to the words of one individual like she did today to the floor speech of fellow Mainer, Independent US Senator, Angus King.
berto.fyi/41aMU9a
berto.fyi/41aMU9a
February 8, 2025 at 11:37 PM
In five years of reading the Letters from an American newsletters by @heathercoxrichardson, I don’t recall her ever devoting so much of an essay to the words of one individual like she did today to the floor speech of fellow Mainer, Independent US Senator, Angus King.
berto.fyi/41aMU9a
berto.fyi/41aMU9a