Derek Powazek
@fraying.bsky.social
I used to make websites. I wrote the book “Design for Community.” I designed the original Blogger. I created JPG Magazine, Fray, Kvetch, Cute-Fight, and more.
Now I grow flowers and turn them into CBD products at https://milkbarn.farm.
Now I grow flowers and turn them into CBD products at https://milkbarn.farm.
I'm a member of many hemp industry organizations that are all freaking out right now. One, the Midwest Hemp Council, has this helpful answer to the question everyone is asking: Why is the Senate going after hemp now? Basically a bullshit campaign from market competitors and prohibitionists.
November 11, 2025 at 9:55 AM
I'm a member of many hemp industry organizations that are all freaking out right now. One, the Midwest Hemp Council, has this helpful answer to the question everyone is asking: Why is the Senate going after hemp now? Basically a bullshit campaign from market competitors and prohibitionists.
Perfect terrible ending to a perfectly terrible day.
November 11, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Perfect terrible ending to a perfectly terrible day.
Hey so if you see your senator in this list, could you please call them tomorrow and tell them that you’re mad because they voted to kill the entire hemp farm industry, including your buddy Derek in Oregon?
Thanks, buddy.
Thanks, buddy.
November 11, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Hey so if you see your senator in this list, could you please call them tomorrow and tell them that you’re mad because they voted to kill the entire hemp farm industry, including your buddy Derek in Oregon?
Thanks, buddy.
Thanks, buddy.
Figures the one time I’m like “I’m not gonna panic about this” is the one time it actually looks like it’s gonna go through. My terrible political instincts never fail.
November 11, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Figures the one time I’m like “I’m not gonna panic about this” is the one time it actually looks like it’s gonna go through. My terrible political instincts never fail.
Well shit. This could be it for my business.
Senate rejects Paul’s hemp pitch
76 lawmakers voted to block the Kentucky Republican's effort to strip language that he argues will destroy the hemp industry.
www.politico.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Well shit. This could be it for my business.
Reposted by Derek Powazek
Right, the answer isn't to abandon the party to these weasels.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
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 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Right, the answer isn't to abandon the party to these weasels.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
Oh no. I am old. So old.
OMG I just learned why MoveOn is called MoveOn and it is not what I expected front.moveon.org/a-short-hist...
A Short History of MoveOn
For more than two decades, MoveOn members have organized and mobilized together, putting our collective people power to work to build a country and world where everyone can thrive.
front.moveon.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Oh no. I am old. So old.
100% this. If you wanna post, post. Just make sure it’s not all you’re doing.
I waited a day to say this bc I respected everyone's right to vent some anger, but *remember to focus on what you can do*. Whether it's defending your community, taking action around what you've been venting about, whatever — but don't let all of your energy get captured in the social media space.
November 10, 2025 at 11:48 PM
100% this. If you wanna post, post. Just make sure it’s not all you’re doing.
Trump's genocide.
“As of November 5th, it estimated that U.S.A.I.D.’s dismantling has already caused the deaths of six hundred thousand people, two-thirds of them children.” www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
www.newyorker.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Trump's genocide.
Love to see this.
We deserve a Democratic Party that is willing to fight as hard as we are.
We need new leadership in this moment and to get there, we need a chorus of support for change. Tell your Democratic senators to call on Senator Schumer to step aside as Minority Leader. It’s time for drastic action.
We need new leadership in this moment and to get there, we need a chorus of support for change. Tell your Democratic senators to call on Senator Schumer to step aside as Minority Leader. It’s time for drastic action.
CALL NOW: Tell Your Democratic Senator It's Time for Chuck Schumer to Step Aside
indivisible.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Love to see this.
Here’s T from ChemHistory doing the hemp sampling. He’ll take a small amount randomly from each bin to the lab. We test each strain separately to determine its unique characteristics.
November 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Here’s T from ChemHistory doing the hemp sampling. He’ll take a small amount randomly from each bin to the lab. We test each strain separately to determine its unique characteristics.
Today the guy from the lab is here to sample this year’s hemp flower and take it to the lab for testing. If it tests too high in THC or anything in a long list of heavy metals or banned pesticides, I’d have to destroy it all. I won’t have to, tho, because I’m good at my job.
November 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Today the guy from the lab is here to sample this year’s hemp flower and take it to the lab for testing. If it tests too high in THC or anything in a long list of heavy metals or banned pesticides, I’d have to destroy it all. I won’t have to, tho, because I’m good at my job.
Oh, look. A hidden reserve of additional anger.
One small part of the terrible Senate deal: “The bill would hand the beer industry a major win by restricting the sale of intoxicating hemp products. The hemp industry claims the provision threatens 325,000 jobs.” -Bloomberg News www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Shutdown Nears End as Democrats Agree to Funding Deal
The record-breaking US government shutdown is nearing an end after a group of moderate Senate Democrats agreed to support a deal to reopen the government and fund some departments and agencies for the...
www.bloomberg.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Oh, look. A hidden reserve of additional anger.
Reposted by Derek Powazek
icymi, the senate deal also kills 325,000 jobs in the hemp industry, meaning our bsky comrades like @fraying.bsky.social who runs a small-time farm that makes cbd products, is absolutely fucked if that part makes it through reconciliation
One small part of the terrible Senate deal: “The bill would hand the beer industry a major win by restricting the sale of intoxicating hemp products. The hemp industry claims the provision threatens 325,000 jobs.” -Bloomberg News www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Shutdown Nears End as Democrats Agree to Funding Deal
The record-breaking US government shutdown is nearing an end after a group of moderate Senate Democrats agreed to support a deal to reopen the government and fund some departments and agencies for the...
www.bloomberg.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:46 PM
icymi, the senate deal also kills 325,000 jobs in the hemp industry, meaning our bsky comrades like @fraying.bsky.social who runs a small-time farm that makes cbd products, is absolutely fucked if that part makes it through reconciliation
I’m angry about it all too but posting about it here does nothing productive.
November 10, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I’m angry about it all too but posting about it here does nothing productive.
I dunno what anyone else did today, but Heather and I spent the day delivering food and care boxes to people all over Portland.
It was better than doomscrolling.
It was better than doomscrolling.
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 AM
I dunno what anyone else did today, but Heather and I spent the day delivering food and care boxes to people all over Portland.
It was better than doomscrolling.
It was better than doomscrolling.
I want to know what Death By Lightning’s beard budget was.
November 9, 2025 at 4:43 AM
I want to know what Death By Lightning’s beard budget was.
Reposted by Derek Powazek
It's one thing if someone's never heard about, say, the evil of Nestle. But there is no one on Bluesky who doesn't know that Amazon is bad. If someone shops there, they either have good reasons or they don't care, and either way, swooping in to scold them isn't going to change their choices.
November 9, 2025 at 3:00 AM
It's one thing if someone's never heard about, say, the evil of Nestle. But there is no one on Bluesky who doesn't know that Amazon is bad. If someone shops there, they either have good reasons or they don't care, and either way, swooping in to scold them isn't going to change their choices.
I really need a moratorium on lecturing people who already agree. How about we all assume that everyone here already knows why most things are bad and don’t need it explained to them.
November 9, 2025 at 3:06 AM
I really need a moratorium on lecturing people who already agree. How about we all assume that everyone here already knows why most things are bad and don’t need it explained to them.
Reposted by Derek Powazek
I havent read such a banger of an essay in a very long time. This is so well-written!
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:37 PM
I havent read such a banger of an essay in a very long time. This is so well-written!
As if I needed more reasons to never step foot in a Target again.
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
As if I needed more reasons to never step foot in a Target again.
The social media platforms were doing the GOP a favor by booting vile bigots off their services. Now that they have largely given up, the bigots are the party's problem.
Wonder if they regret making such a stink about "deplatforming."
Wonder if they regret making such a stink about "deplatforming."
Four years ago, far-right white male supremacist Nick Fuentes was deplatformed pretty much everywhere.
Now he's back with a vengeance—and the online right can't stop fighting over whether to condemn him or welcome him. My story: wapo.st/4nJbt4M
Now he's back with a vengeance—and the online right can't stop fighting over whether to condemn him or welcome him. My story: wapo.st/4nJbt4M
Far-right provocateur Nick Fuentes is triggering a MAGA civil war
Once barred from nearly every social media platform, Fuentes’s resurgence has driven a wedge through the conservative movement.
wapo.st
November 8, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The social media platforms were doing the GOP a favor by booting vile bigots off their services. Now that they have largely given up, the bigots are the party's problem.
Wonder if they regret making such a stink about "deplatforming."
Wonder if they regret making such a stink about "deplatforming."
Elon trained a bot on Twitter and then PUT IT IN TESLAS. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8DxBogS/
A Toronto mom says her 12-year-old son asked Tesla’s AI chatbot, Grok, which soccer player is better: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. After some back and forth, she says the chatbot asked her son, ...
TikTok video by CBC News
www.tiktok.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Elon trained a bot on Twitter and then PUT IT IN TESLAS. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8DxBogS/
Reposted by Derek Powazek
One thing that strikes me is just how fake all of our problems related to government are
The filibuster isn't in the Constitution, and every single Framer would be apoplectic that it exists.
The government shutdown was invented in 1980
The 9-justices limit was invented to stop the New Deal
The filibuster isn't in the Constitution, and every single Framer would be apoplectic that it exists.
The government shutdown was invented in 1980
The 9-justices limit was invented to stop the New Deal
November 8, 2025 at 3:33 AM
One thing that strikes me is just how fake all of our problems related to government are
The filibuster isn't in the Constitution, and every single Framer would be apoplectic that it exists.
The government shutdown was invented in 1980
The 9-justices limit was invented to stop the New Deal
The filibuster isn't in the Constitution, and every single Framer would be apoplectic that it exists.
The government shutdown was invented in 1980
The 9-justices limit was invented to stop the New Deal