Pinned
Mark Blacknell
@blacknell.bsky.social
· Sep 12
This summer, we signed up for a week of dive lessons. I’d never really learned how to use a diving board.
It was an hour a day of throwing my body into the air and hoping I did it right. It was some of the most fun I’ve had in years, and I’m so glad we did it.
(First in a series of Good Things)
It was an hour a day of throwing my body into the air and hoping I did it right. It was some of the most fun I’ve had in years, and I’m so glad we did it.
(First in a series of Good Things)
*This* is the America I grew up believing in, and will always work to achieve.
From Frederick Douglass's 1867 "Composite Nation" speech, a defense of Chinese migration to the United States at a time when anti-Chinese sentiment was intensifying.
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
November 28, 2025 at 10:44 PM
*This* is the America I grew up believing in, and will always work to achieve.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
When troops are deployed overseas in places they absolutely should not be because of a warmonger ass president, and they are killed by someone who acted on their own accord, we typically don’t have a problem blaming the U.S. commander in chief
"In the months leading up to the D.C. deployment, Beckstrom worked for a community health center that serves people with mental illness and substance abuse disorders." www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
National Guard member killed in D.C. shooting remembered for 'heart of gold'
The slain soldier’s former boyfriend recalled her empathy and generosity. “She doesn’t even have to know you and she’ll do anything for you,” he said.
www.nbcnews.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:42 PM
When troops are deployed overseas in places they absolutely should not be because of a warmonger ass president, and they are killed by someone who acted on their own accord, we typically don’t have a problem blaming the U.S. commander in chief
And this is why you need to call for it, loudly and repeatedly, and embarrass those who push back on it.
(Which is all easy enough. It's getting those who look away to care . . . that's the hard one.)
(Which is all easy enough. It's getting those who look away to care . . . that's the hard one.)
It's cute, reading all these anguished cries: "when this is all over, these guys need to go to jail!" I remember saying that during Bush I crimes, and during Bush II crimes, and during Trump I crimes.
Guess how many of those guys went to jail.
Guess how many of those guys went to jail.
November 28, 2025 at 7:05 PM
And this is why you need to call for it, loudly and repeatedly, and embarrass those who push back on it.
(Which is all easy enough. It's getting those who look away to care . . . that's the hard one.)
(Which is all easy enough. It's getting those who look away to care . . . that's the hard one.)
The Mar-a-Lago Trials. Seize it and hold them there.
We need a Project 2029 that includes explicit plans for our own version of the Nuremberg Trials.
November 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The Mar-a-Lago Trials. Seize it and hold them there.
The Aubrey Plaza of his time.
November 27, 2025 at 12:37 AM
The Aubrey Plaza of his time.
Shithole government stuff.
"America first" pricing hits national park visitors
National parks will charge international tourists $100 surcharge plus $250 annual passes starting Jan 1
rollingout.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Shithole government stuff.
Global brand building + S-tier trolling
Over the past year or so, a Chinese company called DCar Studio has been reaching out to US-based car reviewers and influencers to set them with Chinese EVs. www.theverge.com/transportati...
Car influencers love Chinese EVs — and China loves them back
What is DCar Studio, and why is it promoting Chinese EVs to US car reviewers?
www.theverge.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Global brand building + S-tier trolling
It's a *much* better article than I expected when I first clicked through. I'd love to see more reporting like this.
(And if folks like good reporting on broader gun issues, I once again recommend @stephengutowski.bsky.social)
(And if folks like good reporting on broader gun issues, I once again recommend @stephengutowski.bsky.social)
Overall, this is a decent article filled with great insight and we're appreciative of the many clarification articulations throughout including the hard data supported reality that LGBTQ Americans are not any sort of offensive threat.
November 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
It's a *much* better article than I expected when I first clicked through. I'd love to see more reporting like this.
(And if folks like good reporting on broader gun issues, I once again recommend @stephengutowski.bsky.social)
(And if folks like good reporting on broader gun issues, I once again recommend @stephengutowski.bsky.social)
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
Decent article from @wired.com via the hard work of @inrange.tv @tacticoolgf.bsky.social @deviantollam.bsky.social & many others!
Highly recommend subscribing to WIRED
WIRED has refused to 'bend the knee'/capitulate to the wannabe-dictator and they deserve your support!
Highly recommend subscribing to WIRED
WIRED has refused to 'bend the knee'/capitulate to the wannabe-dictator and they deserve your support!
What do you do when you’re a gun-loving leftist who doesn’t fit into mainstream American gun culture?
That's a question @manishakrishnan.bsky.social set out to answer this summer when she attended a Brutality match, an inclusive firearms competition in Idaho.
That's a question @manishakrishnan.bsky.social set out to answer this summer when she attended a Brutality match, an inclusive firearms competition in Idaho.
The Hard-Left Shooters Leading a Gun Culture Revolution
Earlier this year, I attended a shooting competition for queer, often trans, very online misfits. Then Charlie Kirk was killed.
www.wired.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Decent article from @wired.com via the hard work of @inrange.tv @tacticoolgf.bsky.social @deviantollam.bsky.social & many others!
Highly recommend subscribing to WIRED
WIRED has refused to 'bend the knee'/capitulate to the wannabe-dictator and they deserve your support!
Highly recommend subscribing to WIRED
WIRED has refused to 'bend the knee'/capitulate to the wannabe-dictator and they deserve your support!
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
If there's one thing the mainstream news media love to overlook, it's the impact of the mainstream news media. The petite Tea Party in all its elite-backed astroturfiness was hailed like a sacred comet; the historically huge No Kings was played down by the NY Times, among other publications.
November 24, 2025 at 3:53 PM
If there's one thing the mainstream news media love to overlook, it's the impact of the mainstream news media. The petite Tea Party in all its elite-backed astroturfiness was hailed like a sacred comet; the historically huge No Kings was played down by the NY Times, among other publications.
[takes a direct hit]
"the camera is 400 megapixels" every photograph takes up 300 MB just to take 8 out of focus pics at a time of a dog being cute and the one posted will be seen 3 inches wide on phone screens or facebook feed by people who know the dog and say "aw look at sparky" you're trying to selling cloud storage
November 24, 2025 at 7:09 PM
[takes a direct hit]
Twitter account that can't even get the name of the government agency it ostensibly represents right is trying to convince us it knows the law. Absolute clownery.
November 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Twitter account that can't even get the name of the government agency it ostensibly represents right is trying to convince us it knows the law. Absolute clownery.
Turn that into a poster and hang it right back up in the same spot. But a little higher this time. Pathetic.
An ICE agent was caught removing a sign marking an ICE kidnapping in DC last week! Do we think he did it out of anger, embarrassment, or most appropriately shame? If you think what you’re doing is right, why are you trying to hide the evidence? 👀
November 24, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Turn that into a poster and hang it right back up in the same spot. But a little higher this time. Pathetic.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
👇🎯💯
It will take aggressive policy responses, fundamental institutional reforms, a sh*tton of public $$, & a lot of people being prosecuted & jailed for their lawless authoritarian crimes. If it takes generations, it will be the failure of government & imagination & elite accountability. Again.
It will take aggressive policy responses, fundamental institutional reforms, a sh*tton of public $$, & a lot of people being prosecuted & jailed for their lawless authoritarian crimes. If it takes generations, it will be the failure of government & imagination & elite accountability. Again.
I pushback on it’s going to take generations to undo whatever stupid thing Trump is doing analysis. It won’t if people (white people) decide they give a fuck about a functional government.
November 22, 2025 at 5:37 PM
👇🎯💯
It will take aggressive policy responses, fundamental institutional reforms, a sh*tton of public $$, & a lot of people being prosecuted & jailed for their lawless authoritarian crimes. If it takes generations, it will be the failure of government & imagination & elite accountability. Again.
It will take aggressive policy responses, fundamental institutional reforms, a sh*tton of public $$, & a lot of people being prosecuted & jailed for their lawless authoritarian crimes. If it takes generations, it will be the failure of government & imagination & elite accountability. Again.
Being able to say "I don't know. Can you help me?" is an *incredibly* important (and useful!) skill.
This is lovely and I think it's so important that he's comfortable enough in his own skin that he can just say "what does that mean?"
also that is such a law word.
also that is such a law word.
completely outside of politics, this is so charming
November 22, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Being able to say "I don't know. Can you help me?" is an *incredibly* important (and useful!) skill.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
Pretty well established finding that immigration raids of workplaces reduce student test performance for nearby schools, including for non-vulnerable students. The general DHS surge appears to be doing the same for student performance. www.nber.org/papers/w34452
November 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Pretty well established finding that immigration raids of workplaces reduce student test performance for nearby schools, including for non-vulnerable students. The general DHS surge appears to be doing the same for student performance. www.nber.org/papers/w34452
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
Your regular reminder that the reason all of the awful & illegal things keep happening in 🇺🇸 politics - from Trump to GWB/torture to Iran-Contra to Watergate, back to 1865 - is that there are never any actual legal or personal consequences for all of the awful & illegal things happening in 🇺🇸 politics
This, from 2016, feels very quaint now. www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Why Trump Would Almost Certainly Be Violating the Constitution If He Continues to Own His Businesses
The meaning of the Emoluments Clause is fairly clear. And it all goes back to a diamond-encrusted snuffbox Ben Franklin got from Louis XVI.
www.propublica.org
November 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Your regular reminder that the reason all of the awful & illegal things keep happening in 🇺🇸 politics - from Trump to GWB/torture to Iran-Contra to Watergate, back to 1865 - is that there are never any actual legal or personal consequences for all of the awful & illegal things happening in 🇺🇸 politics
I really hate thinking “Fuck this bus” when I see Metro buses.
November 21, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I really hate thinking “Fuck this bus” when I see Metro buses.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
Citizenship ceremonies are one of the most joyous celebrations of America that you can find. 100% patriotism vibes from people who believe in the American dream. So no surprise that these ghouls would cancel them.
Leaning in to “Let’s just be assholes” ithacavoice.org/2025/11/feds...
Feds tell county to cease naturalization ceremonies - The Ithaca Voice
ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins County officials received a directive from federal immigration officials to cease all local naturalization ceremonies. Naturalization ceremonies are typically held throughout t...
ithacavoice.org
November 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Citizenship ceremonies are one of the most joyous celebrations of America that you can find. 100% patriotism vibes from people who believe in the American dream. So no surprise that these ghouls would cancel them.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
Thanks to @popville.bsky.social for the heads up!
November 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Thanks to @popville.bsky.social for the heads up!
Hot garbage. Both this project and every person involved with it. They should be met with extreme hostility, where positively identified.
It starts with this LinkedIn post. Jim Brown is president of a contractor consultancy and a former longtime ICE official. He says he is looking for former law enforcement/military for an upcoming project www.404media.co/contractor-p...
November 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Hot garbage. Both this project and every person involved with it. They should be met with extreme hostility, where positively identified.
The chronic absenteeism (missing more than 10% of school days) in American schools these days is . . . wild. The numbers below are Arlington's, but your school district's probably aren't far off. It's definitely a post-Covid thing, and hasn't declined at the rate you'd expect/hope for.
APS seeks to reduce chronic absenteeism to pre-Covid rates by 2030
APS seeks to reduce chronic absenteeism to pre-Covid rates by 2030 | ARLnow.com
Arlington Public Schools leaders hope to return to a lower, pre-Covid level of student absenteeism by 2030. "That last year before the pandemic, 2018-19, we were around [an] 8% rate. We have been using...
www.arlnow.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The chronic absenteeism (missing more than 10% of school days) in American schools these days is . . . wild. The numbers below are Arlington's, but your school district's probably aren't far off. It's definitely a post-Covid thing, and hasn't declined at the rate you'd expect/hope for.
It's not retaliation - it's doing the work required to make sure this doesn't happen again. And if you're not prepared to do that, you're enabling it. Be clear on that.
Trump will not just be four years of bad management. The culture of these organizations will be fucked for a long time. The pressure to retaliate and clean house will be strong, and no-one wants to work in a war zone.
November 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
It's not retaliation - it's doing the work required to make sure this doesn't happen again. And if you're not prepared to do that, you're enabling it. Be clear on that.
Between them being bastions of cowardice and refuges for some of the dumbest people around, it should be easier than ever to release the grip that the Ivy League has on the minds of aspirational parents everywhere.
Meanwhile, Summers's wife thinks that Lolita is about "a man whose life is stamped forever by his impression of a young girl." She is a professor of literature at Harvard www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2025/11/the-...
The documents in the case - Lawyers, Guns & Money
Note that New’s email is from November 2018. I did a database search on how many stories were out there at the time about Jeffrey Epstein. My first search was limited to the 18 months prior to this em...
www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Between them being bastions of cowardice and refuges for some of the dumbest people around, it should be easier than ever to release the grip that the Ivy League has on the minds of aspirational parents everywhere.
Amen to this. I've got three kids, elementary, middle, and high school. I have never driven any of them to school on a regular (or even semi-regular) basis. In fact, the youngest has a multi-year streak of biking or walking on his own that is fiercely protective of.
Just preaching my message of "wanting to do less more often" we all have our reasons.
November 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Amen to this. I've got three kids, elementary, middle, and high school. I have never driven any of them to school on a regular (or even semi-regular) basis. In fact, the youngest has a multi-year streak of biking or walking on his own that is fiercely protective of.