Joe Neal
@vlvtelvis.bsky.social
Me. Leftish, Gen X, Vaguely southern, Neurodivergent, Sober, Chotic Good, Player of infinite games, enjoying every sandwich
@vlvtelvis
@vlvtelvis
Reposted by Joe Neal
People have a good reason to resist acknowledging the male loneliness crisis. They correctly perceive that women are being blamed and told to fix it.
But the real cause is predatory capitalists who profit on keeping men isolated and online.
www.salon.com/2025/11/17/d...
But the real cause is predatory capitalists who profit on keeping men isolated and online.
www.salon.com/2025/11/17/d...
Don’t blame women for men’s loneliness. Blame capitalism
There’s a lot of money to be made off angry, isolated men
www.salon.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
People have a good reason to resist acknowledging the male loneliness crisis. They correctly perceive that women are being blamed and told to fix it.
But the real cause is predatory capitalists who profit on keeping men isolated and online.
www.salon.com/2025/11/17/d...
But the real cause is predatory capitalists who profit on keeping men isolated and online.
www.salon.com/2025/11/17/d...
Reposted by Joe Neal
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:03 AM
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
Reposted by Joe Neal
For any of y’all upset about the Democrats in DC caving and getting absolutely nothing in their vote to end the shutdown, we’ve got a special election in Tennessee and a chance to flip a congressional seat. @aftynbehn.bsky.social is the Dem nominee running on a platform of affordability.
Democrat Aftyn Behn's chances of winning GOP Tennessee House seat—Polls
Democrats are eyeing the seat as a sleeper flip following a string of overperformances in special elections this year.
www.newsweek.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:54 AM
For any of y’all upset about the Democrats in DC caving and getting absolutely nothing in their vote to end the shutdown, we’ve got a special election in Tennessee and a chance to flip a congressional seat. @aftynbehn.bsky.social is the Dem nominee running on a platform of affordability.
Reposted by Joe Neal
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Joe Neal
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Joe Neal
This is the correct explanation of what happened tonight👇
KBJ threaded the needle thanks to CA1’s unfinished business.
-if she denied the admin stay, the full SCOTUS woulda stepped in to override her.
-if she immediately referred the case to the full Court, they coulda dragged feet.
-instead she boxed them in to act quickly once she does refer the case.
-if she denied the admin stay, the full SCOTUS woulda stepped in to override her.
-if she immediately referred the case to the full Court, they coulda dragged feet.
-instead she boxed them in to act quickly once she does refer the case.
November 8, 2025 at 3:35 AM
This is the correct explanation of what happened tonight👇
Reposted by Joe Neal
ryan is right. people HATE hearing this. but it is just a matter of simple incentives. if you want a more representative legislature — and if you want a legislature more resistant to corruption — then you need to jack up the salaries. serving as mayor of NYC should net you a cool 500K *at least*
people hate hearing this but it's 100% true, creating a huge pay gap between political leaders, their staffs, and other elites is a recipe for corruption. of course the flip side of that is taxes on the rich should be jacked way the hell up
The Mayor of New York only makes $260k. I bet there are police that make more than that in NY with overtime.
We need to pay elected leaders more money and stop pretending it's some sort of calling. They're managing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and millions of people's lives.
We need to pay elected leaders more money and stop pretending it's some sort of calling. They're managing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and millions of people's lives.
November 7, 2025 at 3:42 PM
ryan is right. people HATE hearing this. but it is just a matter of simple incentives. if you want a more representative legislature — and if you want a legislature more resistant to corruption — then you need to jack up the salaries. serving as mayor of NYC should net you a cool 500K *at least*
Reposted by Joe Neal
Dick Cheney was a FATHER. He was a HUSBAND. What kind of monster would cackle ablut how he's being flayed alive by demons in a replica of an Abu Ghraib torture cell for all eternity while the angels sing and rejoice above just because he "violated the geneva convention" and "killed a million people"
November 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Dick Cheney was a FATHER. He was a HUSBAND. What kind of monster would cackle ablut how he's being flayed alive by demons in a replica of an Abu Ghraib torture cell for all eternity while the angels sing and rejoice above just because he "violated the geneva convention" and "killed a million people"
Reposted by Joe Neal
Entirely too many people who believe "people can just work with their hands" have never done any kind of actual manual labor in their lives or maybe remember a summer job from their youth with rosy retrospection and don't realize how different that labor is in your 40s and older.
“Humans can just go get manual labor jobs if desk jobs are repaired with AI” is both not going to suffice to provide enough jobs and is also going to result in massive societal anger because manual labor jobs often *are terrible*, which is why people have worked hard to avoid them for generations.
Even if society provided the food/shelter level needs for everyone, humans also need to perform useful work just for basic fulfillment. The vast majority of people cannot sit around all day letting AI and robots do everything.
(The definition of “useful work” here is malleable but still essential)
(The definition of “useful work” here is malleable but still essential)
November 3, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Entirely too many people who believe "people can just work with their hands" have never done any kind of actual manual labor in their lives or maybe remember a summer job from their youth with rosy retrospection and don't realize how different that labor is in your 40s and older.
Reposted by Joe Neal
The Democratic establishment's ugly reaction to Zohran Mamdani reveals an unpleasant truth.
They would rather lose elections than change.
The addiction to rich donors and consultants is killing the party. But Mamdani shows a path out. An analysis.
www.salon.com/2025/11/03/z...
They would rather lose elections than change.
The addiction to rich donors and consultants is killing the party. But Mamdani shows a path out. An analysis.
www.salon.com/2025/11/03/z...
Zohran Mamdani knows how to win
Not just in New York — Mamdani's campaign shows how to inspire voters nationwide
www.salon.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The Democratic establishment's ugly reaction to Zohran Mamdani reveals an unpleasant truth.
They would rather lose elections than change.
The addiction to rich donors and consultants is killing the party. But Mamdani shows a path out. An analysis.
www.salon.com/2025/11/03/z...
They would rather lose elections than change.
The addiction to rich donors and consultants is killing the party. But Mamdani shows a path out. An analysis.
www.salon.com/2025/11/03/z...
Reposted by Joe Neal
it's utterly wild how the Heritage Foundation president talks about other people
if you found a guy talking like this outside, you'd probably call the cops
if you found a guy talking like this outside, you'd probably call the cops
November 3, 2025 at 1:54 AM
it's utterly wild how the Heritage Foundation president talks about other people
if you found a guy talking like this outside, you'd probably call the cops
if you found a guy talking like this outside, you'd probably call the cops
Reposted by Joe Neal
📣📣📣 The 2026 #ACA Open Enrollment Period launches TOMORROW, so here's my annual guide: 13 important things to know before you #GetCovered.
It's gonna be ugly for most this year, but there are things you can do to mitigate the carnage & even some pleasant surprises:
acasignups.net/25/10/27/slo...
It's gonna be ugly for most this year, but there are things you can do to mitigate the carnage & even some pleasant surprises:
acasignups.net/25/10/27/slo...
Slouching towards Enrollment: My 2026 ACA OEP Guide
Almost exactly a year ago I began my 2025 ACA Open Enrollment Period guide with the following words: This is the best OEP ever for the ACA for several reasons: The expanded/enhanced premium subsidies ...
acasignups.net
October 31, 2025 at 1:16 PM
📣📣📣 The 2026 #ACA Open Enrollment Period launches TOMORROW, so here's my annual guide: 13 important things to know before you #GetCovered.
It's gonna be ugly for most this year, but there are things you can do to mitigate the carnage & even some pleasant surprises:
acasignups.net/25/10/27/slo...
It's gonna be ugly for most this year, but there are things you can do to mitigate the carnage & even some pleasant surprises:
acasignups.net/25/10/27/slo...
Reposted by Joe Neal
Reposted by Joe Neal
Currently on a flight to Japan watching a Pentagon Assistant Press Secretary (Riley Podleski) work on a document in the open on her laptop. She spent the last hour copy and pasting headlines from articles critical of the Administration’s hostility toward the 1st amendment.
October 14, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Currently on a flight to Japan watching a Pentagon Assistant Press Secretary (Riley Podleski) work on a document in the open on her laptop. She spent the last hour copy and pasting headlines from articles critical of the Administration’s hostility toward the 1st amendment.
I Shall Be Released
Will the Circle be Unbroken
Hallelujah
Will the Circle be Unbroken
Hallelujah
there are some songs which feel so much like traditionals that it's a little alarming when you find out someone wrote them in the 20th century. Long Black Veil was written in 1959!
October 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM
I Shall Be Released
Will the Circle be Unbroken
Hallelujah
Will the Circle be Unbroken
Hallelujah
Reposted by Joe Neal
Reposted by Joe Neal
Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.
Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...
Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...
October 10, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.
Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...
Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...
Reposted by Joe Neal
Decision desk, HQ has called the Democratic primary and congressional district 7 Rep. Aftyn Behn. Behn spent less money than any of the three other candidates.
October 8, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Decision desk, HQ has called the Democratic primary and congressional district 7 Rep. Aftyn Behn. Behn spent less money than any of the three other candidates.
Reposted by Joe Neal
What really strikes me about this video is that these goons have no training
Pretty sure throwing someone to the ground and handcuffing them is Cop 101 but it looks like they're just handing recruits $50K and sending them into the field with some Army Surplus gear being like "good luck boys"
Pretty sure throwing someone to the ground and handcuffing them is Cop 101 but it looks like they're just handing recruits $50K and sending them into the field with some Army Surplus gear being like "good luck boys"
This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram.
Community action works.
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...
Community action works.
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...
October 6, 2025 at 4:22 AM
What really strikes me about this video is that these goons have no training
Pretty sure throwing someone to the ground and handcuffing them is Cop 101 but it looks like they're just handing recruits $50K and sending them into the field with some Army Surplus gear being like "good luck boys"
Pretty sure throwing someone to the ground and handcuffing them is Cop 101 but it looks like they're just handing recruits $50K and sending them into the field with some Army Surplus gear being like "good luck boys"
Reposted by Joe Neal
I’m telling you: ridicule works. These guys are supposed to intimidate the citizenry and it’s very hard to do that when a guy in a frog suit is just staring you down and daring you to do something that makes it look like you’re afraid of a cartoon
Portland never stops being Portland.
wizard frog is insane
October 5, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I’m telling you: ridicule works. These guys are supposed to intimidate the citizenry and it’s very hard to do that when a guy in a frog suit is just staring you down and daring you to do something that makes it look like you’re afraid of a cartoon
Reposted by Joe Neal
Portland never stops being Portland.
October 5, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Portland never stops being Portland.
Reposted by Joe Neal
You don’t need to become an expert on AT Protocol, you don’t need to learn to code, but I really do want to impress upon people that “federated social media” is a vitally important concept in a time of global authoritarian and technofeudalist consolidation.
October 2, 2025 at 9:32 PM
You don’t need to become an expert on AT Protocol, you don’t need to learn to code, but I really do want to impress upon people that “federated social media” is a vitally important concept in a time of global authoritarian and technofeudalist consolidation.
Literally everyone saw this coming.
There has to be a crypto equivalent to a festival wristband that can work as proof of age while leaving other PII out of it.
There has to be a crypto equivalent to a festival wristband that can work as proof of age while leaving other PII out of it.
Discord customer service data breach leaks user info and scanned photo IDs
Discord customer service data breach leaks user info and scanned photo IDs
An “unauthorized party” may have accessed the names of users, the last four digits of credit card numbers, and more.
buff.ly
October 4, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Literally everyone saw this coming.
There has to be a crypto equivalent to a festival wristband that can work as proof of age while leaving other PII out of it.
There has to be a crypto equivalent to a festival wristband that can work as proof of age while leaving other PII out of it.
Looks like a whole lot of people didn't get the memo that BlueSky is a tech demo for atproto and not the end product.
October 4, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Looks like a whole lot of people didn't get the memo that BlueSky is a tech demo for atproto and not the end product.
Reposted by Joe Neal
“Fuck them kids.”
That’s literally what an ICE agent said when ICE, the FBI et al. raided an apartment in Chicago, including with a Blackhawk helicopter, separated children from their parents, and zip-tied them to each other.
abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chi...
That’s literally what an ICE agent said when ICE, the FBI et al. raided an apartment in Chicago, including with a Blackhawk helicopter, separated children from their parents, and zip-tied them to each other.
abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chi...
October 3, 2025 at 12:41 AM
“Fuck them kids.”
That’s literally what an ICE agent said when ICE, the FBI et al. raided an apartment in Chicago, including with a Blackhawk helicopter, separated children from their parents, and zip-tied them to each other.
abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chi...
That’s literally what an ICE agent said when ICE, the FBI et al. raided an apartment in Chicago, including with a Blackhawk helicopter, separated children from their parents, and zip-tied them to each other.
abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chi...