Justin Nisly
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justinnisly.bsky.social
Justin Nisly
@justinnisly.bsky.social
540 followers 410 following 480 posts
amish diaspora — formerly bleeding kansas — now mumbai

pictures for bloomberg citylab, atlas obscura, prx the world, etc

they/them
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justinnisly.bsky.social
Kanu Behl (director of Agra) today shared a joint statement from many Indian indie filmmakers about how access to independent films is actively suppressed in India. Great to see them speaking out; the PVR-Inox monopoly has been terrible for distribution, and the OTT platforms aren't much better. 📽️
A Joint Statement from India's Independent Filmmakers As a collective community of filmmakers, writers, producers and artists working across regions, we urge exhibitors, OTT platforms, policymakers and cultural institutions to address this crisis with structural reforms,” they said. “This creates a ‘closed-loop’ ecosystem where independent films are asked to ‘prove’ themselves in theatres while simultaneously being denied theatrical access... We are not demanding exceptional treatment. We are demanding fair access to the right for Indian audiences to discover Indian films,” The coalition outlined five specific requests: guaranteed accessible evening screenings for every independent release, transparent criteria for screen allocation, regular monthly or quarterly indie showcase programming, support from cultural institutions and alternative venues, and streaming acquisition policies independent of theatrical performance metrics. SIGNED BY: Alankrita Shrivastava Aditya Kripalani Arati Kadav Kanu Behl Ruchi Narain Raam Reddy Honey Trehan Leena Yadav Dibakar Das Roy Karan Talwar Megha Ramaswamy Karan Tejpal Devashish Makhija Bauddhayan Mukherji Shonali Bose Nandita Das Karan Gour Dominic Megam Sangma Aditya Vikram Sengupta Bhaskar Hazarika Haobam Paban Kumar Tanuja Chandra Descriptive alt text Anuparna Roy Varun Grover Diwa Shah Gurvinder Singh Hardik mehta Sarvnik Kaur Q Shlok Sharma Vasan Bala Shaunak Sen Ajitpal Singh Rahat Mahajan Ronny Sen Aamir Bashir Safdar Rahman Prateek Vats Akshay Indikar Ashim Ahluwalia Pradip Kurbah Sharukhkhan Chavada Payal Kapadia Rima Das Chaitanya Tamhane Sumit Purohit
November 18, 2025 at 10:28 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
Had a lovely meal at the women-run Mahim Koliwada Seafood Plaza, which just reopened post-monsoon. Great view, inquisitive but polite cats, and excellent fresh crab, prawn, pomfret and many more. Worth a visit!
A white cat with a grey tabby face stares longingly past a ThumsUp bottle, with the lights of Bandra and the Sealink bridge reflecting in the water behind her. Plates of fresh pomfret, prawns, lobster, and other seafood. Crab and lobster cooked in masala on disposable plates, along with onions, lemon, and green chutney, on a blue plastic tablecloth with a decorative print. A black cat stares into the camera with the lights of Bandra and the Sealink bridge reflecting over Mahim bay behind her.
November 18, 2025 at 9:41 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
As transparently fake pretexts for wars of aggression go, this might be even more obviously ridiculous than "weapons of mass destruction," which is really saying something.
Tweet from @SecRubio: @StateDept intends to designate Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Headed by the illegitimate Nicolás Maduro, the group has corrupted the institutions of government in Venezuela and is responsible for terrorist violence conducted by and with other designated FTOs as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.
November 17, 2025 at 9:17 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
Teltumbde argues that bureaucratization of caste hinders its annihilation. Fine to disagree, but today I've seen him called "RSS stooge" & "boot licker of upper caste." That's outrageous, given he was until recently a political prisoner, which he endured w/courage & moral clarity
Screenshot of article titled "Annihilation of Caste Made Impossible," available here: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/et-commentary/annihilation-of-caste-made-impossible-transplanted-from-feudalism-legitimised-in-the-garb-of-social-justice-to-manipulate-people/articleshow/125305666.cms?from=mdr
November 16, 2025 at 10:48 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
Larry Summers strategizing w/Epstein abt a mentee he wanted to seduce: "to get her to be good probably requires more firmness than I enjoy."

Obama handed the reins of his administration over to this juvenile, virulent misogynist. He ran (and still has a job at) Harvard!
Emails between Epstein and Summers, in which Epstein brags about being a good "wing man" for Summers. Summers complains that a woman who sees him as "her... economics mentor" is "very self involved and to get her to be good probably requires more firmness than I enjoy."
November 14, 2025 at 7:15 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
This year, I've been thinking a lot about how my mom's feminism and commitment to justice as an Amish-Mennonite woman allowed me to find a life and community beyond the Amish. She would have been 67 today. Happy birthday, Mom.
Three women (my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother) stand in front of a living room wall. All three wear simple dresses and Amish head coverings. The oldest, in the middle, holds a newborn baby.
November 13, 2025 at 9:38 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
After being cruelly denied a sip of my coffee, she quietly reflects on the suffering of the Anabaptist martyrs at the hands of corrupt ecclesiastical authorities
A black cat rests its paw and chin mournfully on a large book, titled "Martyrs Mirror"
November 7, 2025 at 6:51 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
I love this because perhaps no phrases in the English language are more in need of deflation & demystification than "The White House"/"The West Wing"/"The Oval Office" & what better way to do so than with this third-wedding-at-a-suburban-golf-course font.
Cheesy sign reading the "The Oval Office" with a caption reading: "There's a new sign outside the Oval now."
November 6, 2025 at 4:48 PM
justinnisly.bsky.social
Watching the Zohran victory party, and just learned Mira Nair is working on an Amrita Sher-Gil biopic! That's a great match of director and subject, and maybe an opportunity for some meta-reflection on her own body of work? Intriguing, potential to be a lot more interesting than the typical biopic 📽️
Two Women, 1935, Amrita Sher-Gil Red Verandah, 1938, Amrita Sher-Gil Bride, 1940, Amrita Sher-Gil Marie-Louise Chassany, 1932, Amrita Sher-Gil
November 5, 2025 at 12:52 PM
justinnisly.bsky.social
Mamdani closing with ads in Arabic and ads about socialism is admirably unapologetic, given the racist, Islamophobic, and McCarthyist attacks he's been subjected to. And when he wins, it's gonna help blunt the effectiveness of those kinds of attacks in the future.
Screenshot of Mamdani ad with him saying: "We need to look only to our past..." Screenshot of Mamdani ad with him saying: "...for proof of how socialism can shape our future." Screenshot of Mamdani ad with Arabic and English subs with him saying: "I might look like your brother in law from Damascus..." Screenshot of Mamdani ad with Arabic and English subs with him saying: "...but my Arabic needs some work."
November 4, 2025 at 7:35 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
I'm still annoyed that the NMACC is charging Rs 100 to see exactly one Kusama infinity room. The Ambani's hardly need the the money! All the charge does is prevent a huge swath of the city from seeing a piece of art they might enjoy. Which is the point obviously.
A ticket booking page for a Yayoi Kusama "Infinity Mirrored Room" at the NMACC, charging Rs 100.
October 27, 2025 at 10:17 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
don't think I've seen happier crows than the ones hanging out on boats in the Vizag Fishing Harbour 🦉
A black and grey house crow perches on a diagonal blue pipe on a fishing boat, surrounded by a rope attached to a rusted winch, blue fishing nets, and drying laundry. The wooden boat itself is painted bright yellow and teal green with red lettering in Telugu.
October 27, 2025 at 9:14 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
The second story @theworld.org follows another group of elephants that are trapped in farmland 24/7; some calves born here have no knowledge of forests. Locals say they shape their days around avoiding the danger elephants pose. theworld.org/stories/2025...
An elephant calf stands wedged between two larger elephants. A rice paddy, with a large area of destroyed rice, and muddy elephant footprints. An elephant tracker from the forest department gestures to a local to indicate the location of the elephants. Farmland, split by a stone fence, with hills in the far distance.
October 22, 2025 at 11:26 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
The first story @theworld.org is about the dangerous path elephants take from Karnataka & Tamil Nadu into Andhra Pradesh, and the changes in climate and irrigation patterns that play a role in drawing them there. theworld.org/stories/2025...
Four rice paddies seen from above, lined by palm trees, with a farmer crossing between them on a narrow stretch of dry land. A middle-aged woman stands next to her husband, while her yellow-and-white dog watches them. In the background, their farm is visible in front of a rocky hill. From a mountain, a village is visible in the distance, surrounded by fields. More mountains recede into the distance. A silver-haired farmer holds some rope and smiles, while her cattle graze in the background.
October 22, 2025 at 11:24 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
Elephants keep coming to Andhra Pradesh, driven by habitat loss & climate change, with deadly results for humans & elephants alike. Last month, @namratakolachalam.bsky.social and I spent a week meeting with farmers across the state for a series about increasing human-elephant conflict.
An elephant and her calf forage in a cornfield. An elephant trumpets over a cornfield where she and her calf are foraging. A farmer with a white beard holds a long staff and gestures with his other hand. A white-haired woman sits on the front stoop of a concrete house.
October 22, 2025 at 11:19 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
Indian Gray Hornbills still feel like dinosaurs to me. Four of them came by our flat today, biggest crowd yet.
#birds🦉
A grey bird with a long tail, red eyes, and a large bill with a sharp, striking casque above it. A grey bird with a long tail, red eyes, and a large bill with a sharp, striking casque above it. Two Indian Gray Hornbills in a similar pose next to each other on a branch. A grey bird with a long tail, red eyes, and a large bill with a sharp, striking casque above it.
October 20, 2025 at 8:09 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
Like ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT, SABAR BONDA finds lyricism in concrete, specific political economy: Balya's family had to sell farmland to build a brick house, so he now earns from goats/cows which he grazes on commons, & works odd jobs as a driver/farmworker. Poetic, but precise. 📽️
Two men sit in the shade of a tree while goats graze in the background.
October 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
justinnisly.bsky.social
Bit late, but SABAR BONDA is the best Indian film I've seen this year. Bravura sound design rooted in its specific village setting. Sidesteps queer film cliches to give real insight into rural, working class gay life. Understated, layered performances from Bhushaan Manoj & Suraaj Suman. Lovely. 📽️
Poster for "Cactus Pears" ("Sabar Bonda"): two Indian men face each other with eyes closed.
October 19, 2025 at 4:10 PM
justinnisly.bsky.social
The US is fully responsible for empowering Israel to intentionally cause mass starvation and death in Gaza. Palestinians have been sounding the alarm for years. Politicians sending concerned tweets only now will never wash the stain of atrocity from their souls.
Hillary Clinton: Protestors "Don't Know Very Much" About Middle East History.
July 25, 2025 at 11:04 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
Rumor is that MAMI couldn't find sponsors willing to allow them full editorial control. If true, sad but unsurprising in context of rising censorship: Jio dropped a few years ago after fights over programming. Last year Oscar-winning doc NO OTHER LAND was cancelled by government. 📽️
Instagram post from Mumbai Film Fest: Schedule Change. Due to not receiving the required permissions in time, the screenings of "No Other Land" and "Russians at War" have to be cancelled. (Timing details follow...) We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your understanding and continued support of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.
July 21, 2025 at 9:26 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
MAMI Mumbai Film Fest confirms what a lot of people have known for a while: there will be no fest this year. Continues to be shameful that the city at the heart of one of the largest film industries in the world cannot consistently support and sustain a high-level film festival. 📽️
This is to inform you that the 2025 edition of MAMI Mumbai Film Festival will not take place as we are in the process of revamping the festival with a dynamic vision and a new team to ensure that the festival returns as a premier showcase for the best of independent, regional and classic cinema from India and around the world. We are working diligently to reschedule the festival and will announce the new dates for the 2026 edition as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and support.
July 21, 2025 at 9:25 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
today's true fact about the US that sounds like dystopian scifi world-building: west coast winemakers are trying to make "smoke wine" aspirational because they have been throwing out entire crops of grapes due to smoke damage from wildfires slate.com/life/2025/07...
When smoke and ash clouded Varnum’s east Willamette Valley vineyard growing pinot noir and chardonnay, he picked them the same day and pressed the grapes as quickly as possible to get them off their skins as soon as possible. Varnum eventually released his own series called Smoke & Mirrors: three different single vineyard wines—pinot gris rosé, pinot noir, and tempranillo—that all had varying degrees of smoke effect (Smoke), paired with three other 2020 wines made with a different technique or blended so smoke was not present at all (Mirrors). Or the three impacted wines could be bought together as A Pack of Smokes.
July 7, 2025 at 7:34 AM
justinnisly.bsky.social
That "aid massacres" is an instantly understandable neologism is obscene. Israel has blocked all aid to Gaza, and now they are murdering Palestinians who seek food from their own official "aid" sites. It would require immense bad faith not to call that genocidal intent.
@sharifjouddous: In Gaza, Israeli occupation forces killed 38 Palestinians seeking aid over the past 24 hours, bringing the total official number killed in aid massacres since the GHF began operating in late May to 338, acc to MoH. A total of 68 Palestinians were killed in Gaza over the last day.
June 16, 2025 at 2:17 PM
justinnisly.bsky.social
I remember in the aftermath of my mother's death I would dream about her every night. And every morning I woke up angry, furious, because that was not her. Just a pale imitation in my brain. I cannot imagine accepting a computer program as a substitute for a human that I love.
The New York Times A.I. Avatars and the Brave New Frontier of Life After Death 2 days ago — After Peter Listro was diagnosed with blood cancer, his family decided to make a virtual avatar they can talk to after his death.
June 15, 2025 at 6:48 PM
justinnisly.bsky.social
Also just genuinely glad Sufjan is doing okay.
Q: What routines bring you closer to serenity? A: It’s a lot of gardening and dog-walking and running a small business. I’m the primary owner of Asthmatic Kitty now because Lowell is retired. I have a team of people, but I’m a lot more involved than I used to be. It feels good to have that to occupy my time right now. I’m doing a lot of ordinary, mundane adulting. The other day, I had to get a septic pump replaced. I have had to retile the kitchen and buy some new appliances, and I’ve got seedlings under grow lights in the garage. I’ve been working on other people’s music this past year, not my own. It feels like my life is in service to other things right now. It’s fine and required of me. I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m okay. It’s been two years of a shitshow, but I’m okay.
May 16, 2025 at 9:14 AM