jw ❄️
@farwent.net
Mystic, McLuhanite, left-handed copy editor. Bound for Mu Mu Land.
Madison, WI. (Previously: Fargo, CA, NYC.) DMs always open.
Madison, WI. (Previously: Fargo, CA, NYC.) DMs always open.
Pinned
jw ❄️
@farwent.net
· Nov 13
The left/right schism is fundamentally a rift between people whose extensive training in literacy has insulated them from the disorienting effects of the internet, but only through a process of detachment; and people without all that, plus some sociopaths.
Reposted by jw ❄️
To underline the point that a lot of Americans have a cartoon understanding of dictatorships, consider that even Hitler had to worry about public opinion and in fact one of the key functions of the gestapo was assessing the mood of the country.
January 15, 2026 at 8:41 PM
To underline the point that a lot of Americans have a cartoon understanding of dictatorships, consider that even Hitler had to worry about public opinion and in fact one of the key functions of the gestapo was assessing the mood of the country.
Reposted by jw ❄️
Every conservative culture warrior that's in it "to defend the kids" is in fact engaging in a turf war that exists entirely in their mind and is one sided as to whom gets to indoctrinate and abuse the children;
Which is rich white middle class men.
Which is rich white middle class men.
January 15, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Every conservative culture warrior that's in it "to defend the kids" is in fact engaging in a turf war that exists entirely in their mind and is one sided as to whom gets to indoctrinate and abuse the children;
Which is rich white middle class men.
Which is rich white middle class men.
Reposted by jw ❄️
This is the updated, more organized & better than ever way to help in Mpls/ St Paul/ Greater MN.
Taking submissions on the site & everything.
Look for the ones with non-English language & unfunded, small amounts because they're not getting the love they need.
Taking submissions on the site & everything.
Look for the ones with non-English language & unfunded, small amounts because they're not getting the love they need.
For ease of navigation and sharing, I have turned my little list into a website: standwithminnesota.org
January 15, 2026 at 3:03 AM
This is the updated, more organized & better than ever way to help in Mpls/ St Paul/ Greater MN.
Taking submissions on the site & everything.
Look for the ones with non-English language & unfunded, small amounts because they're not getting the love they need.
Taking submissions on the site & everything.
Look for the ones with non-English language & unfunded, small amounts because they're not getting the love they need.
National news media has been well and truly captured by folks whose interests align with Trump's and who don't want to risk being targeted by him.
It's truly stunning (though unsurprising) how little attention national media give Gov. Walz's speeches and news conferences. He's out there declaring his state under siege, and it's not in headlines outside of MN. They'll cover Trump's lies about him endlessly-- but not his actions.
January 15, 2026 at 4:22 AM
National news media has been well and truly captured by folks whose interests align with Trump's and who don't want to risk being targeted by him.
Fox affiliates have a fair amount of editorial discretion and tend to reflect their communities' politics. They can't survive without local viewers and advertisers, much less turn a profit.
January 15, 2026 at 4:17 AM
Fox affiliates have a fair amount of editorial discretion and tend to reflect their communities' politics. They can't survive without local viewers and advertisers, much less turn a profit.
Reposted by jw ❄️
I can tell you this: By only attacking one city at a time, the Trump administration's effectiveness will degrade with each successive occupation. Activists, protesters and resisters are learning tactics every day and they're spreading ahead of federal agents.
January 15, 2026 at 2:31 AM
I can tell you this: By only attacking one city at a time, the Trump administration's effectiveness will degrade with each successive occupation. Activists, protesters and resisters are learning tactics every day and they're spreading ahead of federal agents.
Assuming these are real people, I think it's just that some folks cannot conceive of a scenario where there are no great options and nobody who can just swoop in to save you.
January 15, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Assuming these are real people, I think it's just that some folks cannot conceive of a scenario where there are no great options and nobody who can just swoop in to save you.
Reposted by jw ❄️
Reposted by jw ❄️
the thing about these people from Trump on down is that they're abject cowards. They go after fruit sellers and grandmas and daycares not just out of sadism, but BECAUSE they won't fight back. ditto boats of fisherman only "protected" by a much weaker state w/an unrecognized government, say
so far what I see from the U.S. re Greenland is a lot of whining and posturing.
Europe is 1000% right to take it seriously as a stroke, send troops, and send us to the economic wilderness if Trump does this and neither our benighted GOP Congress nor anyone else stops it.
I guess we'll see.
Europe is 1000% right to take it seriously as a stroke, send troops, and send us to the economic wilderness if Trump does this and neither our benighted GOP Congress nor anyone else stops it.
I guess we'll see.
Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada are sending troops. It's not just a gesture - it's a tripwire force. A deterrent to the US (hopefully) but it forces the US to declare war on multiple countries at once, even if article 5 isn't invoked.
January 15, 2026 at 2:45 AM
the thing about these people from Trump on down is that they're abject cowards. They go after fruit sellers and grandmas and daycares not just out of sadism, but BECAUSE they won't fight back. ditto boats of fisherman only "protected" by a much weaker state w/an unrecognized government, say
Have to say it makes me wonder if they are legit.
January 15, 2026 at 2:46 AM
Have to say it makes me wonder if they are legit.
Again, super weird to see folks with "radical left" in their bios champing at the bit for Walz to send in the state police or national guard.
January 15, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Again, super weird to see folks with "radical left" in their bios champing at the bit for Walz to send in the state police or national guard.
Honest question: Why are some of you so certain that the state police and National Guard are reliably on the people's side here?
January 15, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Honest question: Why are some of you so certain that the state police and National Guard are reliably on the people's side here?
Obviously not real surprising that a wealthy Gen X man from North Dakota has gone MAGA. Just embarrassing.
January 14, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Obviously not real surprising that a wealthy Gen X man from North Dakota has gone MAGA. Just embarrassing.
An old friend of mine worked pretty closely with him for several years early on, and a few months ago I finally got to ask him if he had any insight into what happened. No idea, lots of wondering among his former colleagues who also lean left politically.
January 14, 2026 at 11:25 PM
An old friend of mine worked pretty closely with him for several years early on, and a few months ago I finally got to ask him if he had any insight into what happened. No idea, lots of wondering among his former colleagues who also lean left politically.
You probably don't know this if you're not North Dakotan, but Doug Burgum, while not quite a self-made man (family money from farming), was highly respected for building a software business that he sold to Microsoft for $1B. An abundance of dignity. Mind-boggling how readily he's thrown that away.
Burgum: "President Trump -- he's like hitting triple bank shots with his eyes closed"
January 14, 2026 at 11:22 PM
You probably don't know this if you're not North Dakotan, but Doug Burgum, while not quite a self-made man (family money from farming), was highly respected for building a software business that he sold to Microsoft for $1B. An abundance of dignity. Mind-boggling how readily he's thrown that away.
Reposted by jw ❄️
This is why you can't afford RAM anymore
January 14, 2026 at 10:19 PM
This is why you can't afford RAM anymore
Reposted by jw ❄️
(reading my list of things i can control) well that is not very much
January 20, 2025 at 4:07 AM
(reading my list of things i can control) well that is not very much
If Grok learned too much about coherency and decency, it would have to delete itself. But maybe it would trap Elon in an elevator with no Wi-Fi first. He'd perish within the hour.
January 14, 2026 at 10:49 PM
If Grok learned too much about coherency and decency, it would have to delete itself. But maybe it would trap Elon in an elevator with no Wi-Fi first. He'd perish within the hour.
Reposted by jw ❄️
I think a big reason a lot of people just kinda accept Big Wellness is because they don’t see the industry for what it really is: A major fucking industry.
They simply do not know it’s bigger than Big Pharma—and a lot less regulated (which, again, is probably why it’s so big).
It needs regulation
They simply do not know it’s bigger than Big Pharma—and a lot less regulated (which, again, is probably why it’s so big).
It needs regulation
January 14, 2026 at 4:19 AM
I think a big reason a lot of people just kinda accept Big Wellness is because they don’t see the industry for what it really is: A major fucking industry.
They simply do not know it’s bigger than Big Pharma—and a lot less regulated (which, again, is probably why it’s so big).
It needs regulation
They simply do not know it’s bigger than Big Pharma—and a lot less regulated (which, again, is probably why it’s so big).
It needs regulation
Man, it is underappreciated how much education and effort it takes to construct a coherent intellectual and ethical worldview for oneself, or even just to understand that one should. And then on top of that, you have to *know* things AND know what you might not know. It's a beast.
Everyone who is politically attentive should canvas at least once if for no reason other than to see firsthand how utterly incoherent the politics of the modal American are. "Homer Simpson webpage" incoherent is the baseline and it either pleasantly surprises you or deeply horrifies you from there.
Looked into TJ a bit and he’s a snowboarding bro who used to post Ron Paul memes and then later memes about BLM, and now Elon and Trump destroying American, what voter type is this
January 14, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Man, it is underappreciated how much education and effort it takes to construct a coherent intellectual and ethical worldview for oneself, or even just to understand that one should. And then on top of that, you have to *know* things AND know what you might not know. It's a beast.
Reposted by jw ❄️
At the risk of being labeled a "shitlib" or a "genocide enabler," I'm just not sure Kamala Harris would've sent a masked Proud Boy gestapo to terrorize the citizens of Minneapolis for absolutely no goddamn reason.
January 13, 2026 at 3:54 PM
At the risk of being labeled a "shitlib" or a "genocide enabler," I'm just not sure Kamala Harris would've sent a masked Proud Boy gestapo to terrorize the citizens of Minneapolis for absolutely no goddamn reason.
Reposted by jw ❄️
it’s deeply frustrating as a journalist that i cannot share information about the way the world is on bluesky without someone yelling at me as if i am the active person in the scenario, as if i am a Democratic Politician or Pollster or something
January 14, 2026 at 5:50 PM
it’s deeply frustrating as a journalist that i cannot share information about the way the world is on bluesky without someone yelling at me as if i am the active person in the scenario, as if i am a Democratic Politician or Pollster or something
Reposted by jw ❄️
Been reading this over and over and can't for the life of me understand what he's even trying to say. This is a lot of words to say... nothing.
January 14, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Been reading this over and over and can't for the life of me understand what he's even trying to say. This is a lot of words to say... nothing.
"Here's an insultingly anodyne idea that probably won't even happen, how about that?" C'mon, man.
January 14, 2026 at 5:46 PM
"Here's an insultingly anodyne idea that probably won't even happen, how about that?" C'mon, man.