Cliff Watkins
@cliffwatkins.bsky.social
Fluid nerd for the DOE in Santa Barbara, plus cameras, bikes, and slow hatred for Prop13
Moth Smoke, by Moshin Hamid, junior year of high school—something so beautiful and touching in the downfall of a talented boy. God. Im not sure it it changed me, but it was magic.
performative reading, lack of reading skills, nobody's reading anymore -- NO!
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
November 12, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Moth Smoke, by Moshin Hamid, junior year of high school—something so beautiful and touching in the downfall of a talented boy. God. Im not sure it it changed me, but it was magic.
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
Sadly, my contract with Blizzard ended in September. That means I'm looking for fulltime or contract work as a senior writer or narrative designer. If you need someone who can write sharp characters, poetic prose, and emotional stories, I'm available! www.hazelmonforton.com
It's #portfolioday! I'm presently a senior narrative designer at Blizzard, but before that I was at Bungie and Arkane. I wrote for the Writer's Guild award-nominated Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, and a bunch of critically acclaimed seasons and expansions in Destiny 2.
October 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Sadly, my contract with Blizzard ended in September. That means I'm looking for fulltime or contract work as a senior writer or narrative designer. If you need someone who can write sharp characters, poetic prose, and emotional stories, I'm available! www.hazelmonforton.com
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
In Italy labor unions helped start a network of left-leaning news/music radio stations that have become some of the staples of public information in much of the country. They now run on a donation / ads model, but initial investment was from labor. I think about this often.
The AFL-CIO should start throwing some money towards labor journalism. If it was done right (i.e. with them accepting that journalists must have full editorial control over what’s published, whether or not union leaders like what they have to say) it could really have such a hugely positive impact
November 7, 2025 at 2:09 PM
In Italy labor unions helped start a network of left-leaning news/music radio stations that have become some of the staples of public information in much of the country. They now run on a donation / ads model, but initial investment was from labor. I think about this often.
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
Boy you can just realllllllly fucking tell who's never had to get on the horn with an insurance company huh
I was at an event yesterday where Rand Paul spoke via video and talked about how great it was to send ACA money "directly to the people" so that they could work collectively to get better deals on health care.
November 11, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Boy you can just realllllllly fucking tell who's never had to get on the horn with an insurance company huh
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
I'll get back to "party unity" as soon as the Senate Minority Leader tells us if he voted for the Democratic party nominee for mayor of his city.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
November 10, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I'll get back to "party unity" as soon as the Senate Minority Leader tells us if he voted for the Democratic party nominee for mayor of his city.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
I'm tired of party unity only ever running one way.
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
This is my favorite part of this cycle we've been repeating for my entire adult life: when they sit backwards on the chair for some real talk and explain that you're a fucking peasant who doesn't understand how things work.
Durbin said critics of his vote “need to understand how the Senate works”
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This is my favorite part of this cycle we've been repeating for my entire adult life: when they sit backwards on the chair for some real talk and explain that you're a fucking peasant who doesn't understand how things work.
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
the “axios is fake news trying to stir shit, dems aren’t gonna cave” to “the dem deal is actually good and smart and savvy” pipeline is real and best explained not be rational trains of thought but fear and cognitive dissonance
November 10, 2025 at 6:03 AM
the “axios is fake news trying to stir shit, dems aren’t gonna cave” to “the dem deal is actually good and smart and savvy” pipeline is real and best explained not be rational trains of thought but fear and cognitive dissonance
listening to the same song that got me through all the other frustrations, i guess.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m64...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m64...
Aphex Twin - 4 (slowed)
YouTube video by WORLD CHAMPIONCHIMP Uploads
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 AM
listening to the same song that got me through all the other frustrations, i guess.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m64...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m64...
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
GEORGIA - CALL OSSOFF AND TELL HIM NOT TO CAVE!
8 Democrats ready to cave to BBB: Remember these names! Janeen Shaheen (NH), Jon Ossoff (GA), Gary Peters (D-Mi), Mark Kelly (AZ), Maggie Hassan (MI), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Elissa Slotkin (MI) and finally, the only one who didn't contribute to AIPAC Peter Welch (VT).
November 9, 2025 at 1:50 AM
GEORGIA - CALL OSSOFF AND TELL HIM NOT TO CAVE!
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
The highly skilled, downwardly mobile members of the working class tend to be the leaders of social democratic movements, yes.
Can Zohran Mamdani's largely educated, middle-income support base be explained - or even justified - from a Marxist perspective?
@dmk1793.bsky.social presents five (5) conflicting ways in which it can:
@dmk1793.bsky.social presents five (5) conflicting ways in which it can:
Is DSA the class party of the PMC?
Five Marxist perspectives on Zohran Mamdani’s electoral coalition
renewal.org.uk
November 7, 2025 at 11:29 PM
The highly skilled, downwardly mobile members of the working class tend to be the leaders of social democratic movements, yes.
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
IT'S THE @davidjroth.bsky.social & @mobute.bsky.social BUMP!
The Hallmark Channel has risen from the ninth to the fourth most-watched cable channel in prime time in the last three weeks.
A Hallmark Christmas Movie Just Beat Almost Everything On CNN, MSNBC
The Hallmark Channel has risen from the ninth to the fourth most-watched cable channel in prime time in the last three weeks.
www.forbes.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:49 AM
IT'S THE @davidjroth.bsky.social & @mobute.bsky.social BUMP!
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
“Democratic socialists” and “lgbt” both being 80% means every dem candidate needs to be both a socialist and to unequivocally support trans rights thanks.
For better and for worse, it's undeniable: democratic socialists are the base of the Democratic Party
November 5, 2025 at 2:38 AM
“Democratic socialists” and “lgbt” both being 80% means every dem candidate needs to be both a socialist and to unequivocally support trans rights thanks.
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
I really am just working from the basic premise of political science that public opinion isn’t just measurable — you can and should CREATE it.
This never stops being true, but I’m not sure Ds have ever, at least in my lifetime, learned to apply it for good. *Creating* public opinion either never occurs to them, or if it does, offends their sensibilities? It’s exasperating
November 3, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I really am just working from the basic premise of political science that public opinion isn’t just measurable — you can and should CREATE it.
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and let me know if you have any questions! 🤗
October 29, 2025 at 9:16 PM
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and let me know if you have any questions! 🤗
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
Overseas renminbi lending surges as China steps up campaign to de-dollarise on.ft.com/42Qj9uI
Overseas renminbi lending surges as China steps up campaign to de-dollarise
Beijing’s push for renminbi trade and investment will speed move from dollar-based to multi-polar monetary system, analysts say
on.ft.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Overseas renminbi lending surges as China steps up campaign to de-dollarise on.ft.com/42Qj9uI
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
Layoff notices at JPL are going out today.
About 11% of the Lab, or 550 people, are being let go.
I'm thinking of my friends and colleagues there, some of whom will still be employed after today and some of whom won't.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.
About 11% of the Lab, or 550 people, are being let go.
I'm thinking of my friends and colleagues there, some of whom will still be employed after today and some of whom won't.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.
October 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Layoff notices at JPL are going out today.
About 11% of the Lab, or 550 people, are being let go.
I'm thinking of my friends and colleagues there, some of whom will still be employed after today and some of whom won't.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.
About 11% of the Lab, or 550 people, are being let go.
I'm thinking of my friends and colleagues there, some of whom will still be employed after today and some of whom won't.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
the actual story here, which the media never talks about, is that police in this country have become a discrete right-wing political operation. the story isn't about cops leaving (they're lying about that), it's about the police trying to exert influence over elections.
October 13, 2025 at 1:01 AM
the actual story here, which the media never talks about, is that police in this country have become a discrete right-wing political operation. the story isn't about cops leaving (they're lying about that), it's about the police trying to exert influence over elections.
Reposted by Cliff Watkins
I see pieces like this a lot, often w/ a spin of lamenting cultural degeneration, but reading is a LABOR issue, it’s declined because so many people are working overtime or two jobs & employers expect after hours work. France has Earth’s highest reading rate b/c long lunch breaks & labor protections
October 7, 2025 at 12:25 AM
I see pieces like this a lot, often w/ a spin of lamenting cultural degeneration, but reading is a LABOR issue, it’s declined because so many people are working overtime or two jobs & employers expect after hours work. France has Earth’s highest reading rate b/c long lunch breaks & labor protections
Would I buy this as a dad hat, unironically as a Mets fan... probably.
Made this a few years ago, sorry I didn't repost it until now.
October 4, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Would I buy this as a dad hat, unironically as a Mets fan... probably.