Oldionus
@oldionus.bsky.social
Resident of the beautiful State of Oregon, spend about a third of the year in the also beautiful State of California. Humanist and Rationalist. Secular Buddhist. Amateur pianist and clavichordist.
Pinned
Oldionus
@oldionus.bsky.social
· May 14
🧵
This colour image, combining #Hubble observations with further info by Robert Gendler & Jay GaBany, shows an incredible view of Messier 106 (M106 or NGC 4258), an intermediate spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici.
➡️ esahubble.org/news/heic1302/
🔭 🧪 #extragalactic #science #astronomy #space
This colour image, combining #Hubble observations with further info by Robert Gendler & Jay GaBany, shows an incredible view of Messier 106 (M106 or NGC 4258), an intermediate spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici.
➡️ esahubble.org/news/heic1302/
🔭 🧪 #extragalactic #science #astronomy #space
What an absolutely stunning image. What evolutionary purpose does the human sense of beauty serve that when we see an image like this, of beauty on the largest scales, we (Some of us, anyway) get goosebumps?
Note the demeanor of the most horrible person ever to be president of the United States in the presence of the murder bin Salman, and contrast it with how he acted when President Zelenskyy was in his presence. Or, for that matter, Prime Ministers Carney or Starmer or President Macron.
'Things [like murder and the chopping up of the body] happen' - Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing.
'Things happen' - Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing
The US president's claims that the crown prince "knew nothing" contradict the CIA's own assessment.
www.bbc.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Note the demeanor of the most horrible person ever to be president of the United States in the presence of the murder bin Salman, and contrast it with how he acted when President Zelenskyy was in his presence. Or, for that matter, Prime Ministers Carney or Starmer or President Macron.
This is quite literally revolting. I feel an upwelling from my guts.
November 19, 2025 at 7:29 AM
This is quite literally revolting. I feel an upwelling from my guts.
Reposted by Oldionus
It's time for COP30 in Brazil, the conference focused on solutions. It's also time for the IPCC's special report on Cities and Climate.
What a great idea from my friend @brenttoderian.bsky.social to offer this starter pack, which I also recommend.
Go ahead 💫
#ClimateAction
#UrbanistShoutOut
#Cities
What a great idea from my friend @brenttoderian.bsky.social to offer this starter pack, which I also recommend.
Go ahead 💫
#ClimateAction
#UrbanistShoutOut
#Cities
ICYMI, this STARTER PACK is my team-up with celebrated climate scientist @katharinehayhoe.com, and it’s full of people & organizations that specifically embrace the overlap between better cities and climate action! Please follow them, and help spread the pack around! #ClimateAction #UrbanistShoutOut
November 18, 2025 at 9:01 PM
It's time for COP30 in Brazil, the conference focused on solutions. It's also time for the IPCC's special report on Cities and Climate.
What a great idea from my friend @brenttoderian.bsky.social to offer this starter pack, which I also recommend.
Go ahead 💫
#ClimateAction
#UrbanistShoutOut
#Cities
What a great idea from my friend @brenttoderian.bsky.social to offer this starter pack, which I also recommend.
Go ahead 💫
#ClimateAction
#UrbanistShoutOut
#Cities
This just shows how thoroughly disgusting our president (ugh!) really is. I find it amazing that I'm quoting Marjorie Taylor Greene, but she's right: "Let me tell you what a traitor is -- a traitor is an American that serves foreign countries."
November 19, 2025 at 7:17 AM
This just shows how thoroughly disgusting our president (ugh!) really is. I find it amazing that I'm quoting Marjorie Taylor Greene, but she's right: "Let me tell you what a traitor is -- a traitor is an American that serves foreign countries."
Reposted by Oldionus
Now is the time to fight, not surrender. 🗣️
Schumer must step down from his post as minority leader and allow for new leadership to emerge—someone who is willing to consistently fight for the American people.
Schumer must step down from his post as minority leader and allow for new leadership to emerge—someone who is willing to consistently fight for the American people.
Progressive group MoveOn calls on Schumer to step aside
"Inexplicably, some Senate Democrats, under Leader Schumer's watch, decided to surrender."
www.axios.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Now is the time to fight, not surrender. 🗣️
Schumer must step down from his post as minority leader and allow for new leadership to emerge—someone who is willing to consistently fight for the American people.
Schumer must step down from his post as minority leader and allow for new leadership to emerge—someone who is willing to consistently fight for the American people.
My latest letter to Tesla Motors, letting them know what I think of them. www.gyromantic.com/2025/11/my-l...
My latest letter to Tesla Motors:
Political and futuristic personal commentary: Progressive, visionary, philosophical, with occasional forays into classical music and science fiction.
www.gyromantic.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:42 PM
My latest letter to Tesla Motors, letting them know what I think of them. www.gyromantic.com/2025/11/my-l...
Yeah, right. After 2018 Biden didn't beat Trump in 2020. And if he had been a more dynamic and younger Democrat he would've beat him again.
Johnson: What happened last night was blue states and blue cities voted blue. We all saw that coming. No one should read too much into last night's election results. Off year elections are not indicative of what's to come. That’s what history teaches us.
November 5, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Yeah, right. After 2018 Biden didn't beat Trump in 2020. And if he had been a more dynamic and younger Democrat he would've beat him again.
Reposted by Oldionus
The women justices (all of them) are working over the Solicitor General in this tariff argument like nobody’s business.
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The women justices (all of them) are working over the Solicitor General in this tariff argument like nobody’s business.
Reposted by Oldionus
MAJOR BREAKING: California’s redistricting measure, Prop 50, has PASSED — a major win for Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Blue Tsunami is complete.
Trump and MAGA have been forcefully REJECTED by the American people.
The Blue Tsunami is complete.
Trump and MAGA have been forcefully REJECTED by the American people.
November 5, 2025 at 4:13 AM
MAJOR BREAKING: California’s redistricting measure, Prop 50, has PASSED — a major win for Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Blue Tsunami is complete.
Trump and MAGA have been forcefully REJECTED by the American people.
The Blue Tsunami is complete.
Trump and MAGA have been forcefully REJECTED by the American people.
Reposted by Oldionus
We don’t just have a #bluewave, we have a #BlueTsunami.
Democrats won by MASSIVE margins in four states:
Virginia
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
California
The American people sent a clear message to Trump and Republicans:
WE. WILL. NOT. YIELD.
Democrats won by MASSIVE margins in four states:
Virginia
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
California
The American people sent a clear message to Trump and Republicans:
WE. WILL. NOT. YIELD.
BREAKING: Proposition 50, California's redistricting amendment, is projected to pass, reports @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 4:12 AM
We don’t just have a #bluewave, we have a #BlueTsunami.
Democrats won by MASSIVE margins in four states:
Virginia
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
California
The American people sent a clear message to Trump and Republicans:
WE. WILL. NOT. YIELD.
Democrats won by MASSIVE margins in four states:
Virginia
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
California
The American people sent a clear message to Trump and Republicans:
WE. WILL. NOT. YIELD.
No, Dickhead. The reason is that people have figured out who you are (finally) and THEY HATE YOU.
Cry harder.
Trump will never be on the ballot again.
And Trump can reopen the Republican shutdown this week by stopping the Republican assault on healthcare and hungry kids.
#bluewave
Trump will never be on the ballot again.
And Trump can reopen the Republican shutdown this week by stopping the Republican assault on healthcare and hungry kids.
#bluewave
November 5, 2025 at 4:10 AM
No, Dickhead. The reason is that people have figured out who you are (finally) and THEY HATE YOU.
Schumer should just resign. He has lost the trust of Democrats everywhere.
Eat shit Chuck Schumer
November 5, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Schumer should just resign. He has lost the trust of Democrats everywhere.
Reposted by Oldionus
BREAKING: PROP 50 HAS PASSED IN CALIFORNIA
November 5, 2025 at 4:01 AM
BREAKING: PROP 50 HAS PASSED IN CALIFORNIA
Reposted by Oldionus
Despite billionaires spending obscene amounts of money and the Trump regime putting the entire weight of its propaganda machine behind slandering Mamdani, he still won, because we, the people, will always be more powerful than them.
They want us to believe they’re inevitable—the truth is: we are.
They want us to believe they’re inevitable—the truth is: we are.
November 5, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Despite billionaires spending obscene amounts of money and the Trump regime putting the entire weight of its propaganda machine behind slandering Mamdani, he still won, because we, the people, will always be more powerful than them.
They want us to believe they’re inevitable—the truth is: we are.
They want us to believe they’re inevitable—the truth is: we are.
This man is now officially insane. I so much regret buying a Tesla. NOT because it isn't a great car (despite, not because of, EM), but because anything than enables this man in any way is a bad thing.
What. The. Actual. Fuck.
Elon Musk, "These lovely small towns in England, Scotland and Ireland, they've been living their lives quietly. They're like hobbits"
"And so one day, 1,000 people show up in your village of 500 and start raping the kids"
"This has now happened, God knows how many times in Britain"
"And so one day, 1,000 people show up in your village of 500 and start raping the kids"
"This has now happened, God knows how many times in Britain"
November 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
This man is now officially insane. I so much regret buying a Tesla. NOT because it isn't a great car (despite, not because of, EM), but because anything than enables this man in any way is a bad thing.
Hallelujah. WE WILL NOT BE COWED.
They’re following the Russian playbook.
There is a playbook here they appear to be following:
1) Break apart the government.
2) Crash the economy.
3) Sell government assets and bankrupt companies to billionaires for cheap.
4) Cement power for oligarchs and fascists.
But we the people will not allow this—we will resist, and we will win.
1) Break apart the government.
2) Crash the economy.
3) Sell government assets and bankrupt companies to billionaires for cheap.
4) Cement power for oligarchs and fascists.
But we the people will not allow this—we will resist, and we will win.
November 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Hallelujah. WE WILL NOT BE COWED.
Reposted by Oldionus
I don’t dedicate a lot of space to this idea in the essay, but it might be the most important IMHO
bsky.app/profile/asel...
bsky.app/profile/asel...
Something I try and tease out toward the end of the essay is how I think the ballroom isn’t just a symbol of authoritarianism but actually a weapon in cementing Trump’s power.
Moreover, it is designed to be an engine and not just an expression of his power.
How much further will he be able to entrench himself when he can operate his Mar-a-Lago court from the White House grounds?
The ballroom could tighten his grip on office and on the patrons he needs for staying there
How much further will he be able to entrench himself when he can operate his Mar-a-Lago court from the White House grounds?
The ballroom could tighten his grip on office and on the patrons he needs for staying there
October 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I don’t dedicate a lot of space to this idea in the essay, but it might be the most important IMHO
bsky.app/profile/asel...
bsky.app/profile/asel...
This is beyond embarrassing. These American "diplomats" should be hauled before Congress and censured. Maybe after we take back both the House and Senate next year they will be.
When a state makes personal threats against diplomats in trade negotiations, the appropriate responses are:
Short-term: Tell them to go to Hell (though perhaps phrase it more diplomatically)
Longer-term: Reduce interactions and reliance, seek to deepen relationships with more trustworthy partners
Short-term: Tell them to go to Hell (though perhaps phrase it more diplomatically)
Longer-term: Reduce interactions and reliance, seek to deepen relationships with more trustworthy partners
European negotiators were personally targeted by their American counterparts during a brutal negotiation over green shipping rules, European Commission officials told POLITICO.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
November 3, 2025 at 3:38 PM
This is beyond embarrassing. These American "diplomats" should be hauled before Congress and censured. Maybe after we take back both the House and Senate next year they will be.
What Ron Johnson says is such total BS. For shame. FOR SHAME. Goddamned priviled white asshole who should just keep his damn mouth shut if all he can do is spout lies about people who don't have a hundredth of the privileges he does.
Let’s be clear, most EBT users are white. The reason he’s specifically lying about “weaves” and we’ve seen so many AI fakes of Black women ranting about food stamps is they need to make BW the face EBT because they know many Americans don’t care if Black people suffer, and some actually wish for it.
ROB SCHMITT: People are using SNAP benefits to get their nails done, to get their weaves and their hair. This is a really ugly program.
SEN. RON JOHNSON: That program needs to be dramatically reformed.
SEN. RON JOHNSON: That program needs to be dramatically reformed.
November 1, 2025 at 9:08 PM
What Ron Johnson says is such total BS. For shame. FOR SHAME. Goddamned priviled white asshole who should just keep his damn mouth shut if all he can do is spout lies about people who don't have a hundredth of the privileges he does.
I love this
2,400 year-old skeleton mosaic reads:
“Be cheerful, enjoy your life”
Discovered in Turkey
“Be cheerful, enjoy your life”
Discovered in Turkey
October 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I love this
Gawdy and tasteless. But what would you expect. Wonder how many people's health premiums the cost would've covered for a year?
October 31, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Gawdy and tasteless. But what would you expect. Wonder how many people's health premiums the cost would've covered for a year?
I dunno I'm not usually an emotional guy, but this made me tear up just a little. Thanks to Manny's... this is what humanity is all about. I'm lucky enough not to need help, but I remember what it's like not to be sure there's enough money to put food on the table, and it's not a joke.
Manny’s is a mensch
SUPPORT MANNY'S IF YOU ARE IN CHICAGO.
October 31, 2025 at 11:57 PM
I dunno I'm not usually an emotional guy, but this made me tear up just a little. Thanks to Manny's... this is what humanity is all about. I'm lucky enough not to need help, but I remember what it's like not to be sure there's enough money to put food on the table, and it's not a joke.
I think this disapprove number would be much higher if people really understood the extent to which this is actually a massive renovation of the East Wing military bunker underground. The to-be dictator will be protected from his own people to an extent not previously contemplated. Ironic given the>
A majority of Americans oppose President Trump’s demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make way for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom, a Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found.
Twenty-eight percent say they support the demolition project. https://wapo.st/47hh0Lc
Twenty-eight percent say they support the demolition project. https://wapo.st/47hh0Lc
October 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I think this disapprove number would be much higher if people really understood the extent to which this is actually a massive renovation of the East Wing military bunker underground. The to-be dictator will be protected from his own people to an extent not previously contemplated. Ironic given the>
I'm with Ford on this. Municipal speed cameras are a scourge, that make life miserable for everyone. Fact is speed per se isn't the issue. Unsafe maneuvering and running stop signs and traffic lights is far, far more dangerous than modest speed violations. And the solution is more bike lanes.
The traffic death bill passed?
“The Ford Govt in Ontario has passed a controversial omnibus bill banning municipalities from installing speed cameras.
Ford says it will make the province more efficient & reduce red tape.
It won’t do either, and he knows it.
It might get him “speeder votes” though.
This will kill more people.
Ford says it will make the province more efficient & reduce red tape.
It won’t do either, and he knows it.
It might get him “speeder votes” though.
This will kill more people.
October 30, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I'm with Ford on this. Municipal speed cameras are a scourge, that make life miserable for everyone. Fact is speed per se isn't the issue. Unsafe maneuvering and running stop signs and traffic lights is far, far more dangerous than modest speed violations. And the solution is more bike lanes.
He won't. She's gonna divorce his ass. And we already know MAGA gives no shits about that. But what he can't overcome is that he's a sweeb with exactly zero charisma. That matters far more than most political nerds admit.
If Vance runs for POTUS, they will announce a divorce. His only loyalty is to JD Vance. Watch.
October 30, 2025 at 7:04 PM
He won't. She's gonna divorce his ass. And we already know MAGA gives no shits about that. But what he can't overcome is that he's a sweeb with exactly zero charisma. That matters far more than most political nerds admit.