Potempkin Village Idiot
@ixak.bsky.social
Baltimore climate dad anthropologist fighting existential terror w/ existential counter-terrorism. The soft underbelly of the cutting edge. Working on resilience, local governance, urban gardening, tool repair, fermentation.
https://medium.com/@ixak
https://medium.com/@ixak
Pinned
Conversation w/ my son:
Him: What was your favorite movie when you were a kid?
Me: Short Circuit
What's it about?
A robot who comes to life.
What was your favorite movie when you became a grownup?
Blade Runner
What's it about?
A guy who hunts and kills robots who have come to life.
Him: What was your favorite movie when you were a kid?
Me: Short Circuit
What's it about?
A robot who comes to life.
What was your favorite movie when you became a grownup?
Blade Runner
What's it about?
A guy who hunts and kills robots who have come to life.
Ok. One more kid-related flex.
At daycare the 4-year-old did a "thankfulness project" where the top two things he was thankful for were:
1. Apples
2. Dad
I'm up there with apples, man. If you thought I was insufferable before, you ain't seen nothing yet.
At daycare the 4-year-old did a "thankfulness project" where the top two things he was thankful for were:
1. Apples
2. Dad
I'm up there with apples, man. If you thought I was insufferable before, you ain't seen nothing yet.
November 16, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Ok. One more kid-related flex.
At daycare the 4-year-old did a "thankfulness project" where the top two things he was thankful for were:
1. Apples
2. Dad
I'm up there with apples, man. If you thought I was insufferable before, you ain't seen nothing yet.
At daycare the 4-year-old did a "thankfulness project" where the top two things he was thankful for were:
1. Apples
2. Dad
I'm up there with apples, man. If you thought I was insufferable before, you ain't seen nothing yet.
Some men just want to watch the men who want to watch the world burn, burn.
November 15, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Some men just want to watch the men who want to watch the world burn, burn.
It's in the 30s and 40s all week at night, and yet the raspberry bush in the community garden is still pumping out phenomenal berries.
November 15, 2025 at 7:18 PM
It's in the 30s and 40s all week at night, and yet the raspberry bush in the community garden is still pumping out phenomenal berries.
Bought my first new piece of clothing since the job market cratered back in february. Had to replace a pair of 10-year-old jeans that finally wore out this summer. Splurged and got myself some long underwear to go with them. Feeling pretty fancy.
ixak.medium.com/things-that-...
ixak.medium.com/things-that-...
Things That Make Me Feel Rich
#TTMMFR
ixak.medium.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Bought my first new piece of clothing since the job market cratered back in february. Had to replace a pair of 10-year-old jeans that finally wore out this summer. Splurged and got myself some long underwear to go with them. Feeling pretty fancy.
ixak.medium.com/things-that-...
ixak.medium.com/things-that-...
Ultimately, aside from all the death and suffering, I think the other big reason why climate change unsettles me so deeply is because I love wearing jackets, and I'm not willing to move farther north to keep doing so.
November 15, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Ultimately, aside from all the death and suffering, I think the other big reason why climate change unsettles me so deeply is because I love wearing jackets, and I'm not willing to move farther north to keep doing so.
"Tick Omnibus 2: Thursday Ad Infinitum!" and something classy that I haven't actually read, like Bookchin's "The Philosophy of Social Ecology"
alright let’s get something more pleasant going. what two books would you leave out on your coffee table so a reporter can mention you have them. doesn’t matter if you’ve read them. for me it’s Pale Fire (which I did read) and Ulysses (got like 15% of the way in)
November 14, 2025 at 7:41 PM
"Tick Omnibus 2: Thursday Ad Infinitum!" and something classy that I haven't actually read, like Bookchin's "The Philosophy of Social Ecology"
Currently torn between either pronouncing females like tamales, or pronouncing tamales like females.
November 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Currently torn between either pronouncing females like tamales, or pronouncing tamales like females.
Here's something someone said to me today that made me cry my eyes out
November 14, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Here's something someone said to me today that made me cry my eyes out
Show me a hot person with a gun again.
November 14, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Show me a hot person with a gun again.
Seems like mainstream journalism is kind of playing the "hide from the T. Rex by staying very still" game.
And they're hiding from both the general public and rich people who own them...
And they're hiding from both the general public and rich people who own them...
November 13, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Seems like mainstream journalism is kind of playing the "hide from the T. Rex by staying very still" game.
And they're hiding from both the general public and rich people who own them...
And they're hiding from both the general public and rich people who own them...
Reposted by Potempkin Village Idiot
I just need to say that if you're already just sitting at your desk doing nothing, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't buy a $10 practice butterfly knife and watch some videos on how to use it.
Absolutely no reason at all.
Absolutely no reason at all.
June 20, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I just need to say that if you're already just sitting at your desk doing nothing, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't buy a $10 practice butterfly knife and watch some videos on how to use it.
Absolutely no reason at all.
Absolutely no reason at all.
Reposted by Potempkin Village Idiot
Tickets now available: ~Black Reconstruction in Lower Charles Village~ premiering in late November! fullstorybaltimore.tours/our-tours/#c...
November 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Tickets now available: ~Black Reconstruction in Lower Charles Village~ premiering in late November! fullstorybaltimore.tours/our-tours/#c...
21st century political violence in the US doesn't really come from the left. It comes almost entirely from one of two places:
1. The far right.
2. Neurotic weirdos overwhelmed by pain and chaos with unmappable political opinions.
1. The far right.
2. Neurotic weirdos overwhelmed by pain and chaos with unmappable political opinions.
November 13, 2025 at 6:18 PM
21st century political violence in the US doesn't really come from the left. It comes almost entirely from one of two places:
1. The far right.
2. Neurotic weirdos overwhelmed by pain and chaos with unmappable political opinions.
1. The far right.
2. Neurotic weirdos overwhelmed by pain and chaos with unmappable political opinions.
There is no better song to accompany this picture than Guy Clark's song "Texas 1947"
November 13, 2025 at 6:12 PM
There is no better song to accompany this picture than Guy Clark's song "Texas 1947"
When I was like 10 or 11 years old I used to spend my summer evenings wandering around my neighborhood in Northwest Baltimore by myself carrying a book on edible plants so I could identify and eat random shoots and berries.
Yes. 100 percent yes!
We weren’t allowed in the house for three months of the summer, but it was the best of times.
We weren’t allowed in the house for three months of the summer, but it was the best of times.
November 12, 2025 at 10:22 PM
When I was like 10 or 11 years old I used to spend my summer evenings wandering around my neighborhood in Northwest Baltimore by myself carrying a book on edible plants so I could identify and eat random shoots and berries.
Reposted by Potempkin Village Idiot
Americans might not understand it, but in many cultures it’s considered bad or even immoral to be a child rapist
November 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Americans might not understand it, but in many cultures it’s considered bad or even immoral to be a child rapist
Leitmotif?
More like a yeetmotif, amiright?
More like a yeetmotif, amiright?
November 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Leitmotif?
More like a yeetmotif, amiright?
More like a yeetmotif, amiright?
The more attention I pay to legal matters, the faster i whipsaw between "I'd be a horrible lawyer" and "I'd be a brilliant lawyer"
Interestingly, these are not mutually exclusive categories.
Interestingly, these are not mutually exclusive categories.
November 10, 2025 at 7:09 PM
The more attention I pay to legal matters, the faster i whipsaw between "I'd be a horrible lawyer" and "I'd be a brilliant lawyer"
Interestingly, these are not mutually exclusive categories.
Interestingly, these are not mutually exclusive categories.
Reposted by Potempkin Village Idiot
did you know that intercountry #adoptees born before 1983 have no guarantee of US citizenship, and instead are treated as immigrants who must obtain citizenship through naturalization? That they are subject to deportation if they have committed a crime or are deemed to be in the US “illegally?”
November 9, 2025 at 1:28 PM
did you know that intercountry #adoptees born before 1983 have no guarantee of US citizenship, and instead are treated as immigrants who must obtain citizenship through naturalization? That they are subject to deportation if they have committed a crime or are deemed to be in the US “illegally?”
"...with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark—that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back."
Spike Jonze Levi's Commercial 1996 "Doctors" - Tainted Love
YouTube video by Fuzzy Legends Archives
youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
"...with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark—that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back."
Me, to my kids: "No! We're not buying a bunch of half-priced post-Halloween candy. You have too much candy already!"
Also me: "Yes. We need this."
Also me: "Yes. We need this."
November 9, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Me, to my kids: "No! We're not buying a bunch of half-priced post-Halloween candy. You have too much candy already!"
Also me: "Yes. We need this."
Also me: "Yes. We need this."
Just introduced my 4 year old to the nog.
He's a fan.
He's a fan.
November 9, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Just introduced my 4 year old to the nog.
He's a fan.
He's a fan.
Question for folks growing up in the upper Midwest and Northern New England:
Do aunties still get on your shit for not wearing a coat when the temperature is in the 60s like they do farther south?
Do aunties still get on your shit for not wearing a coat when the temperature is in the 60s like they do farther south?
November 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Question for folks growing up in the upper Midwest and Northern New England:
Do aunties still get on your shit for not wearing a coat when the temperature is in the 60s like they do farther south?
Do aunties still get on your shit for not wearing a coat when the temperature is in the 60s like they do farther south?
Reposted by Potempkin Village Idiot
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
He said that the agents would throw food at them to eat. The agents threatened to withhold food for a week and to beat him up if he didn't sign deportation papers. He said he saw others refuse and get beaten/receive no food. He signed because he was afraid.
November 7, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
Right now US politics is essentially a struggle between three parties:
1. Things should be better
2. No they shouldn't
3. Things should be worse
1. Things should be better
2. No they shouldn't
3. Things should be worse
November 7, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Right now US politics is essentially a struggle between three parties:
1. Things should be better
2. No they shouldn't
3. Things should be worse
1. Things should be better
2. No they shouldn't
3. Things should be worse