Ron Bronson
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ronbronson.com
Ron Bronson
@ronbronson.com
3.5K followers 830 following 3.6K posts
critical designer studying how tech upends civic life. asst prof of practice in urban tech @ umich. only posting ephemera here. founded pdx design month. 18F.gov alum. ronbronson.design / newsletter: makingpublicwork.com
co-host: futureperfectbook.club
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ronbronson.com
Graeber's "dead zones of the imagination" calcified into everyday life, without anyone responsible held to account.

Civic tech's next era is coming to the realization that you can't prettify the horrors of bad policy design under the guise of helping people. This isn't a UX problem.
Steve Burton, who owns the Roseburg Grocery Outlet with his wife, Kelly, said when he found out he couldn’t offer SNAP recipients 10% off, he sought an exemption but learned that a process that might normally take hours online had turned into a paper process that might last 60 days. So he decided to print 1,000 10% off coupon cards that are good at his store in November. Starting Monday, the FISH Food Pantry began distributing them to anyone who showed up to the food bank, Burton said.
November 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: Horse Jumper of Love (27) Madison McFerrin (17) Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth (16) Quicksand (12) +/- (11). #myweekcounted 416 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
Horse Jumper of Love Madison McFerrin Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth Quicksand +/-
November 7, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ronbronson.com
That stupid Carolina-Colorado cosplay game sent me in a time machine.
hartford whalers sweatshirt Quebec Nordiques hoodie
November 1, 2025 at 6:44 PM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: Stevie Wonder (37) Theo Croker (22) Chance the Rapper (18) Emma-Jean Thackray (15) ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead (14). #myweekcounted 419 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
Stevie Wonder Theo Croker Chance the Rapper Emma-Jean Thackray ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
October 31, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ronbronson.com
After watching Hang the DJ (Black Mirror ep) a few years ago, Ian always-on device that promised to find you love & glowing softly when it sensed “your person” nearby. I didn’t think we’d get this close to it this fast. And yet....
A device that says how long the relationship will last from the hang the dj episode of black mirror, a person has a table with wine staring at the circular device
October 24, 2025 at 2:40 PM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: The Automatic (8) Agrikulture (7) Frédéric Chopin (7) Johann Sebastian Bach (7) Olivia Dean (7). #myweekcounted 671 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
The Automatic Agrikulture Frédéric Chopin Johann Sebastian Bach Olivia Dean
October 17, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ronbronson.com
the chat gpt commercial where the scrawny kid asks the robot for workout tips is anti-social behavior because you could just ask someone who actually works out & maybe find an accountability workout buddy. Also pullups? Really?
Alt text: A person in a red shirt and black shorts stands near outdoor pull-up bars at sunset. On the screen are workout tips from ChatGPT, including advice on mobility, doing pull-ups when fresh, tracking reps, and eating enough protein and calories. The text ends with encouragement: “You’ll be repping 10 by fall.”
October 11, 2025 at 1:42 AM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: Deftones (37) Geese (22) Agrikulture (14) Wednesday (12) Air (11). #myweekcounted 684 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
Deftones Geese Agrikulture Wednesday Air
October 10, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ronbronson.com
Dispatches from the front lines of Portland (albeit with military helicopters roving downtown day & night joining the crow roost)
wooden utility pole outdoors with a handwritten purple sign taped to it, reading: “Only thing BURNING in this city are your leg muscles #NOTAWARZONE” in colorful marker. Other community event flyers are partially visible below, and a street intersection and trees appear in the background under a clear blue sky.
October 6, 2025 at 11:55 PM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: Say She She (43) Cindy Lee (32) johnathan blake (24) Yussef Dayes (17) D’Angelo and The Vanguard (12). #myweekcounted 864 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
Say She She Cindy Lee johnathan blake Yussef Dayes D’Angelo and The Vanguard
September 26, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ronbronson.com
Yhdeksäs vuosipäivä artikkelista, joka julkaistiin suomalaisessa sanomalehdessä ja jossa haastateltiin minua rakkaudestani pesäpalloon. #pesis
A Finnish newspaper article from Ilkka’s sports section titled “Veto on Indianassa helppo valinta” (“Veto is an easy choice in Indiana”), featuring a color photo of Ron Bronson smiling at a diner table. The article describes his enthusiasm for pesäpallo (Finnish baseball) and support for Vimpelin Veto, despite living in Bloomington, Indiana. A map inset shows Bloomington’s location in the United States. The article praises his unique fandom and how he discovered pesäpallo while exploring global sports.
September 22, 2025 at 12:29 PM
ronbronson.com
Bought two albums while in Oslo including Kaja Gunnufsen's 2014 LP "Faen Kaja" which was reissued last year.
Porto Geese & Kaja Gunnufsen albums on vinyl
September 14, 2025 at 11:55 AM
ronbronson.com
Following the example of the portland city council, I am also on a study trip to a European capital.
Oslo Opera House
September 9, 2025 at 10:47 AM
ronbronson.com
ngl the thing I was kinda most looking forward to being back in Norway was grabbing Urge. My childhood bff is from here so I have nostalgia for the candy & this soda ha
the soda Urge on a table it's ecto cooler neon green v 90s inspired drink that once sold in the US briefly as Surge
September 7, 2025 at 6:21 PM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: Earl Sweatshirt (25) Deftones (22) G Malio (9) Deradoorian (8) Froth (8). #myweekcounted 448 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
Earl Sweatshirt Deftones G Malio Deradoorian Froth
August 29, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ronbronson.com
Thank goodness it's the playoffs, we get the supervuoro back the way god intended. #pesis
screensot of finnish pesapallo, vimpeli v kempele game 3 of the men's quarterfinals
August 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: Arcade Fire (29) Garbage (15) Backxwash (14) Deafheaven (14) Tyler, The Creator (13). #myweekcounted 835 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
Arcade Fire Garbage Backxwash Deafheaven Tyler, The Creator
August 22, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: Heartless Bastards (12) Leon Thomas (8) $uicideboy$ (6) Clipse (6) White Fence (6). #myweekcounted 365 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
Heartless Bastards Leon Thomas $uicideboy$ Clipse White Fence
August 15, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: Handvoll Scherben (18) Leon Thomas (18) Ghais Guevara (17) Jessica Pratt (15) Saya Gray (14). #myweekcounted 860 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
Handvoll Scherben Leon Thomas Ghais Guevara Jessica Pratt Saya Gray
August 8, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ronbronson.com
Washington for sure is a top-tier baseball city, the Montreal Expos should come back but it's DC is up there with St. Louis in the fan base category.
A sunny afternoon baseball game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., viewed from the stands behind home plate. The stadium is filled with fans, with both lower and upper decks nearly full. The field is well-lit, and the game is in progress with a batter at the plate, players on base, and the outfielders positioned. The large scoreboard displays game details and advertisements. White clouds float across a bright blue sky, and modern buildings surround the stadium beyond the outfield.
August 2, 2025 at 10:46 PM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: Shana Cleveland (26) Boosie Badazz (25) Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist (14) Jarvis Cocker (13) Syndrome 81 (13). #myweekcounted 1097 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
Shana Cleveland Boosie Badazz Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist Jarvis Cocker Syndrome 81
August 1, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ronbronson.com
Life in 2025 summarized, no notes.
microcopy from venmo saying "you might not get your money back if someone scams you"
July 26, 2025 at 3:46 AM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: Ghais Guevara (17) Garth Brooks (15) Foxwarren (13) Brooke Combe (12) Clipse (11). #myweekcounted 823 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
Ghais Guevara Garth Brooks Foxwarren Brooke Combe Clipse
July 25, 2025 at 5:05 AM
ronbronson.com
The best part of volunteering at a community radio station is meeting people you just wouldn't run into in my normal life, but also exposure to community events that feel rooted in a past that feel more distant online than reality.

(Pic from the Cathedral Park Jazz Fest in North Portland)
People picnicing under the St Johns Bridge at the 45th Cathedral Park Jazz Festival in St Johns, Portland, Oregon
July 19, 2025 at 3:38 AM
ronbronson.com
♫ Top 5 artists of the Last.week: Clipse (53) Moneybagg Yo (31) Bloc Party (13) Wet Leg (12) Khruangbin (9). #myweekcounted 761 Scrobbles with Lastfm #music via @lastfm.blue
Clipse Moneybagg Yo Bloc Party Wet Leg Khruangbin
July 18, 2025 at 5:05 AM