Urban Futurist Democrat
@urbfuturistdem.bsky.social
The future is urban. It's here, if we want it.
East Bay, CA
East Bay, CA
The Metropolis is born free, but almost everywhere it is in chains
December 3, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The Metropolis is born free, but almost everywhere it is in chains
Here's a whole magazine article from 1928 on the origin & use of the phrase. Taste is not mentioned; examples are given in a wide range of service matters, and it's described as a statement of policy & attitude more than of fact.
I think we can put a pin in that folktale!
I think we can put a pin in that folktale!
December 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Here's a whole magazine article from 1928 on the origin & use of the phrase. Taste is not mentioned; examples are given in a wide range of service matters, and it's described as a statement of policy & attitude more than of fact.
I think we can put a pin in that folktale!
I think we can put a pin in that folktale!
Oh, those days of abundant over the counter amphetamine
December 3, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Oh, those days of abundant over the counter amphetamine
"Metropolitan ostracism" - legally bar officials who abused the public trust from living in or (with exceptions) even entering any metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area.
Like keeping Russian officials out of the EU.
So e.g. for Texas, only the white areas.
Like keeping Russian officials out of the EU.
So e.g. for Texas, only the white areas.
December 2, 2025 at 10:00 PM
"Metropolitan ostracism" - legally bar officials who abused the public trust from living in or (with exceptions) even entering any metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area.
Like keeping Russian officials out of the EU.
So e.g. for Texas, only the white areas.
Like keeping Russian officials out of the EU.
So e.g. for Texas, only the white areas.
Interesting. Religious identification stopped declining among Americans this decade, but certainty seems significantly down, & declining comparably in each age group www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...
@faineg.bsky.social that since-deleted post you quoted was of the 2014 study, for reference
@faineg.bsky.social that since-deleted post you quoted was of the 2014 study, for reference
December 2, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Interesting. Religious identification stopped declining among Americans this decade, but certainty seems significantly down, & declining comparably in each age group www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...
@faineg.bsky.social that since-deleted post you quoted was of the 2014 study, for reference
@faineg.bsky.social that since-deleted post you quoted was of the 2014 study, for reference
I have to say, with data through August I am not seeing the tariffs' impact anywhere near the level predicted. It does seem like between a range of tactics, USMCA certification, optimizing import sources by tariff level, corps forgoing some profits, etc., the bullet has not hit at the macro level.
December 1, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I have to say, with data through August I am not seeing the tariffs' impact anywhere near the level predicted. It does seem like between a range of tactics, USMCA certification, optimizing import sources by tariff level, corps forgoing some profits, etc., the bullet has not hit at the macro level.
If every Republican voter were a MAGA Republican, why would we ever use the qualifier? </pedant>
November 28, 2025 at 9:52 PM
If every Republican voter were a MAGA Republican, why would we ever use the qualifier? </pedant>
Hmmm, this may be relevant too. There were a lot more Brits in my online spheres than there were C/S Americans. Maybe they were the ones transmitting this to me
November 27, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Hmmm, this may be relevant too. There were a lot more Brits in my online spheres than there were C/S Americans. Maybe they were the ones transmitting this to me
Probably hom, hum, or hume
November 25, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Probably hom, hum, or hume
Kermit's residence could also have stood some vacancy taxation it seems
November 25, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Kermit's residence could also have stood some vacancy taxation it seems
"Can you, like, mark down that I'm commenting in outrage?"
November 25, 2025 at 5:17 AM
"Can you, like, mark down that I'm commenting in outrage?"
November 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The next transition seems to have been in the 19th century, where in "rough" settings it started to be used as the _consequence_ of violence - the implication being "I'll knock you cross-eyed."
From 'Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry', compiled by Yeats:
From 'Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry', compiled by Yeats:
November 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The next transition seems to have been in the 19th century, where in "rough" settings it started to be used as the _consequence_ of violence - the implication being "I'll knock you cross-eyed."
From 'Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry', compiled by Yeats:
From 'Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry', compiled by Yeats:
While "for" was less common, it also seemed to run to earlier dates. Eventually I found this key in an 1881 glossary, quoting an Erasmus translation from 1543:
![(scan of old book)
NINE WAYS. To look nine ways is a strong expression for squinting. The extract is supposed to be from a free translation of Iliad, ii. 212-219, containing the description of Thersites. The line subjoined is the translation of a single word in the original, [Greek] pholeus, which used to be rendered "squinting," though it probably has a different etymology from that formerly assigned to it, and means bandy-legged. Mr. Roberts, in his note on the extract, observes, "Modern roughs say, 'He looks nine ways for Sunday.'" Cf. NINE-EYED.
[quote] Squyntyied he was, and looked nine waies. - Udal's Erasmus's Apophth., p. 203.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yqojanpjaudedi3fmypttdue/bafkreicnb2jrcpqaa5mm4mapqcqbqeyxj67cqtsobnrctiohpwpghhq7r4@jpeg)
November 23, 2025 at 3:54 PM
While "for" was less common, it also seemed to run to earlier dates. Eventually I found this key in an 1881 glossary, quoting an Erasmus translation from 1543:
Nobody Scores! by BBolt never quote took off, but it's still online & worth going through. nobodyscores.loosenutstudio.com
I still have a hard time believing this one is from 2006.
I still have a hard time believing this one is from 2006.
![Comic title: Citizen Biff.
Two bros in a bar watching TV.
Unnamed bro: Whine, whine, whine. Our society's gone so soft. Makes me sick.
Biff: I'm telling you, a few simple changes and this'll be a country of men again!
Illustration of "Liberal Democwacy" with labels.
Vaguely hippie-ish person walking down the street in art print t-shirt. - "'Citizens' express trhemselves - like pussies!"
Political billboard with a smiling face. "Bob Gelding for Guvner - What 'U' Deserve" - "Leaders want you to 'like them'!
Car with bumper sticker 'Question Authority' - "Frivolous luxuries!"
White and blue police car with policewoman in blue uniform driving - "Police 'follow regulations'!"
Grass and flowers in foreground - "'Urban beautification' -- protects us from what?"
Alternative illustration of "POLCIE STATE!", title decorated with electric guitar and powerful gun.
Background has golden statue of guy doing wheelie on motorcycle, throwing horns, subsidiary woman clutching behind him - "Leaders do what they want--when they want! Like men1"
Two cops in mall ninja gear with huge guns they are brandishing while running - "Cops shoot first & ask questions never!"
Man in civilian clothes is dead in the street with bullet holes & in several pools of blood - "Dissendents die for their beliefs-- like men!"
Blonde woman in foreground is throwing horns & waving Texas [actually Chilean] flag, with happily-ignorant grin & stars painted on her cheeks - "Citizenship is earned by supporting the team!"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yqojanpjaudedi3fmypttdue/bafkreib3irq5zynyvnqwdkmjcc6ykpjk35ypjf7xj2ztdd4p6mwzzpretm@jpeg)
November 22, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Nobody Scores! by BBolt never quote took off, but it's still online & worth going through. nobodyscores.loosenutstudio.com
I still have a hard time believing this one is from 2006.
I still have a hard time believing this one is from 2006.
Yeah, if I were quitting a job with scheduled holidays but no PTO bank, I too would time out my resignation to maximize salary and minimize work
November 22, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Yeah, if I were quitting a job with scheduled holidays but no PTO bank, I too would time out my resignation to maximize salary and minimize work
I know how this story ends
November 21, 2025 at 1:51 AM
I know how this story ends
Like this?
November 19, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Like this?
I think Epstein's spelling & diction were aspirational to the fourth of these
November 19, 2025 at 2:53 PM
I think Epstein's spelling & diction were aspirational to the fourth of these