Geoff Johnson
@geoffthejohnson.bsky.social
History and reading/writing teacher @CUNY. As a student once wrote of me in an evaluation, “CAN BE FUNNY AT TIMES." I believe that we will win.
It's hard to think of much that could actually improve the GOP's electoral position in the course of the next year, which is nice, but it's not hard to think of some ill-advised but still super harmful shit that they might try. These guys aren't all that smart and they think hurting people is good.
a thing to ask yourself re: the GOP's electoral position is what could happen over the next year that could *improve* its position? and what could trump do, plausibly, that might *boost* his numbers with the public?
December 3, 2025 at 3:03 AM
It's hard to think of much that could actually improve the GOP's electoral position in the course of the next year, which is nice, but it's not hard to think of some ill-advised but still super harmful shit that they might try. These guys aren't all that smart and they think hurting people is good.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
What's happening with the Chicago Public Libraries right now is terrible. The proposed budget of the city would CUT 89 CPL positions. Importantly, 78 positions were lost LAST year. That would be 167 positions in 2 YEARS while COPS KEEP GETTING MORE MONEY. ENOUGH. SAY NO.
December 2, 2025 at 10:51 PM
What's happening with the Chicago Public Libraries right now is terrible. The proposed budget of the city would CUT 89 CPL positions. Importantly, 78 positions were lost LAST year. That would be 167 positions in 2 YEARS while COPS KEEP GETTING MORE MONEY. ENOUGH. SAY NO.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
I teach big classes, so I get a lot of accommodation letters and I simply follow them and go on with my day because why the hell wouldn‘t I. If I wanted to be a cop, I would have applied.
We need to be able to see that the line "accommodations have gone too far" is an expression of the ableist notion that disabled students do not belong in higher ed. Its fundamentally an anxiety about the fact that disabled students get an "advantage" over abled students.
December 2, 2025 at 10:31 PM
I teach big classes, so I get a lot of accommodation letters and I simply follow them and go on with my day because why the hell wouldn‘t I. If I wanted to be a cop, I would have applied.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Very similar to the trans-kids panic, where the prestige media narrative is that it's far too easy but you talk to any trans person, expert or parent and it's obvious that it's way too hard.
Once again, no one making these claims seems to understand the enormous hurdles in the way of getting a kid the help they need - in this case - I dare anyone suggesting this to go through an IEP process.
December 2, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Very similar to the trans-kids panic, where the prestige media narrative is that it's far too easy but you talk to any trans person, expert or parent and it's obvious that it's way too hard.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Last week, ICE arrested and separated a father and son after a routine check-in. Six-year-old Yuanxin had just enrolled in the first grade at an elementary school in Astoria. Now he's in custody, alone. ICE won't say where. This cruelty serves no one. It must end.
December 2, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Last week, ICE arrested and separated a father and son after a routine check-in. Six-year-old Yuanxin had just enrolled in the first grade at an elementary school in Astoria. Now he's in custody, alone. ICE won't say where. This cruelty serves no one. It must end.
This is a very chilling development.
NEW: The Trump administration has fired 8 immigration judges in one day in New York City as feds seek to restrict immigration nationwide
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/n...
(gift link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/n...
Trump Administration Fires 8 Immigration Judges in New York
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:19 AM
This is a very chilling development.
This is precisely my energy. I hate *chocolate* and never eat it. You don’t think I can hate/never use “AI” until my death? It will be my *pleasure*. I’ve hated much better things my whole life and loved it. I swim in haterade, and doing so makes me immune to accommodating wack shit.
“AI is clearly sticking around so you have to get used to it” wrong. I don’t have to get used to shit. I am a practiced hater and I can keep this going for decades if I am required to
December 2, 2025 at 2:02 AM
This is precisely my energy. I hate *chocolate* and never eat it. You don’t think I can hate/never use “AI” until my death? It will be my *pleasure*. I’ve hated much better things my whole life and loved it. I swim in haterade, and doing so makes me immune to accommodating wack shit.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Sometime last year, a CUNY alum contacted me saying they’d found some photos they took at the 1995 protest against budget cuts and would I please take them so they could clear out their attic?
They arrived today and they DID NOT DISAPPOINT
They arrived today and they DID NOT DISAPPOINT
December 1, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Sometime last year, a CUNY alum contacted me saying they’d found some photos they took at the 1995 protest against budget cuts and would I please take them so they could clear out their attic?
They arrived today and they DID NOT DISAPPOINT
They arrived today and they DID NOT DISAPPOINT
I know plenty of people in this boat as well, and while I empathize with the impulse to "check out" from events, I also find that unacceptable among folks who have the relative privilege to resist--to stay informed and "do things" in this historical moment. We need more people fighting in more ways.
honestly don't know. highly-educated, successful, left-leaning academic friends of mine have just completely checked out of following the news. idk if it's too depressing/overwhelming or what, but i'm baffled.
November 30, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I know plenty of people in this boat as well, and while I empathize with the impulse to "check out" from events, I also find that unacceptable among folks who have the relative privilege to resist--to stay informed and "do things" in this historical moment. We need more people fighting in more ways.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
We should really retire the term "AI" it's been corrupted beyond redemption. Actual useful applications of machine learning need to be called something else.
The problem is that thanks to techbros "AI" is now the term that describes everything from perverted teddy bears and chatbots that tell you to kill yourself to actually useful ML applications. People hate the former, and by association they hate "AI"-everything.
November 30, 2025 at 3:11 PM
We should really retire the term "AI" it's been corrupted beyond redemption. Actual useful applications of machine learning need to be called something else.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
A simpler way of putting this would be that 1) the D party has not shown itself to be our friend when Palestine speech is on the table and for that reason I wouldn’t expect the next Dem WH to scrutinize or reverse these university deals without significant pressure to do so, and
The Biden dept of education was already on board with using Title VI to punish dissent on Palestine. The only thing the two parties agree on is whether that should invoke a regulatory framework or not and how much other damage they want to do to universities in the process
November 30, 2025 at 12:45 PM
A simpler way of putting this would be that 1) the D party has not shown itself to be our friend when Palestine speech is on the table and for that reason I wouldn’t expect the next Dem WH to scrutinize or reverse these university deals without significant pressure to do so, and
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Very hard eldercare and logistics is a subject I have extensive experience with. This article nails why it's so hard, including logistics, $, coordination w/ family, $ again, & no one wants to hear you talk about it. The author acknowledges she had a lot of resources others won't. Gift link:
Opinion | The People Holding Everyone Together Are Coming Apart
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Very hard eldercare and logistics is a subject I have extensive experience with. This article nails why it's so hard, including logistics, $, coordination w/ family, $ again, & no one wants to hear you talk about it. The author acknowledges she had a lot of resources others won't. Gift link:
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Between diffusion models and LLMs, tech has inflated a trillion dollar bubble around automating activities that have immense social and cultural capital—writing, art, photography—but little actual capital. It’s harmful to education, culture, and society with minimal overall benefit
November 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Between diffusion models and LLMs, tech has inflated a trillion dollar bubble around automating activities that have immense social and cultural capital—writing, art, photography—but little actual capital. It’s harmful to education, culture, and society with minimal overall benefit
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
New resource⚡️ Block it! Don’t Build It. Don’t Fill It. Don’t Fuel It.
A mini-toolkit to take action to slow down and disrupt the government’s kidnapping, detention, and deportation machine.
Info on strategies/tactics, ways to take action, and more:
www.interruptingcriminalization.com/block-it
A mini-toolkit to take action to slow down and disrupt the government’s kidnapping, detention, and deportation machine.
Info on strategies/tactics, ways to take action, and more:
www.interruptingcriminalization.com/block-it
November 21, 2025 at 3:53 PM
New resource⚡️ Block it! Don’t Build It. Don’t Fill It. Don’t Fuel It.
A mini-toolkit to take action to slow down and disrupt the government’s kidnapping, detention, and deportation machine.
Info on strategies/tactics, ways to take action, and more:
www.interruptingcriminalization.com/block-it
A mini-toolkit to take action to slow down and disrupt the government’s kidnapping, detention, and deportation machine.
Info on strategies/tactics, ways to take action, and more:
www.interruptingcriminalization.com/block-it
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
"Democratic board members, including Gustavo Reveles of El Paso, signaled that they would push for the list to include works that reflect various communities in the state, including Black and Hispanic Texans."
jesus christ
jesus christ
November 29, 2025 at 1:52 AM
"Democratic board members, including Gustavo Reveles of El Paso, signaled that they would push for the list to include works that reflect various communities in the state, including Black and Hispanic Texans."
jesus christ
jesus christ
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
I do think formal and informal faculty groups need to be thinking about their boards, how they are constituted, and what routes to change exist. The time of assuming that faculty no-confidence votes mean anything has passed.
November 29, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I do think formal and informal faculty groups need to be thinking about their boards, how they are constituted, and what routes to change exist. The time of assuming that faculty no-confidence votes mean anything has passed.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. as @heidikitrosser.bsky.social has noted, the northwestern faculty had just voted overwhelmingly against exactly this kind of capitulation.
BTW, any story about a possible Northwestern capitulation should include this detail (screenshot is from the oped linked below)
November 29, 2025 at 1:37 AM
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. as @heidikitrosser.bsky.social has noted, the northwestern faculty had just voted overwhelmingly against exactly this kind of capitulation.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
To put a finer point on this whole thing: "Two people with direct knowledge of the operation" — presumably uniformed military leaders — are accusing the U.S. Secretary of Defense of personally ordering specific war crimes. That's a historic accusation.
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:48 PM
To put a finer point on this whole thing: "Two people with direct knowledge of the operation" — presumably uniformed military leaders — are accusing the U.S. Secretary of Defense of personally ordering specific war crimes. That's a historic accusation.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Wild! Ppl throw away 80% of items purchased on Black Friday after few uses
Black Friday deliveries also generate 429,000 tonnes of emissions
Black Friday is built on exploited retail workers, migrant warehouse workers, garment workers in Bangladesh, forced labour in Congo
Community > capitalism!!
Black Friday deliveries also generate 429,000 tonnes of emissions
Black Friday is built on exploited retail workers, migrant warehouse workers, garment workers in Bangladesh, forced labour in Congo
Community > capitalism!!
November 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Wild! Ppl throw away 80% of items purchased on Black Friday after few uses
Black Friday deliveries also generate 429,000 tonnes of emissions
Black Friday is built on exploited retail workers, migrant warehouse workers, garment workers in Bangladesh, forced labour in Congo
Community > capitalism!!
Black Friday deliveries also generate 429,000 tonnes of emissions
Black Friday is built on exploited retail workers, migrant warehouse workers, garment workers in Bangladesh, forced labour in Congo
Community > capitalism!!
I'm sure a large percentage of people here on Bluesky have already read this recent xkcd, but if you have not, you really ought to do so.
![Comic. Panels up to the 10-year point are grayed out. New panels since the Ten Years comic, which chronicles the first ten years of PERSON 1's journey with cancer: (1) [two people in bed] PERSON 1 (woman): One more chapter? PERSON 2 (man): Don’t we both have to get up early? PERSON 1: Nnnnnggggh PERSON 2: Sure, good point. (2) [many people wearing masks, walking while looking at graphs on their phones] (3) [birds landing on people] PERSON 2 in beanie and scarf: Hah! They like *my* seeds best. PERSON 1 in scarf holding phone with a bird sitting on it: Wait, how do I take a picture of this one? (4) [two people rowing boats with tree landscape] (5) [Person 1 carries overflowing stack of things to Person 2 in bed] PERSON 1: I brought you honey lemon tea, more pillows, a cinnamon roll, Tylenol, another blanket, a– PERSON 2: It was just Appendicitis, I’m really– PERSON 1: *It is my turn to take care of you and I am going to do it right!* (6) [Two people in car] (7) [still in car) PERSON 1: Oh my god. PERSON 2: Oh my god. (8) [car driving] PERSON 1: Pull over! PERSON 2: I am! (9) [both people get out of car] (10) [Large colored panel of aurora borealis over water with both people looking on] (11) [Person 1 sits against tree while Person 2 lies on the ground] PERSON 1: Fifteen years. No sign of the cancer. (12) I *am* having some weird symptoms. Joint pain. Fatigue. I think I’m losing my close-up vision. PERSON 2: Yeah. Me too. (13) PERSON 2: I think we’re getting old. (14) PERSON 1: I guess that’s okay. PERSON 2: It’s all I wanted.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihwhjblp5lyiwp63ouar7ocfea7evmckytoeo7rkfuoo4gw5rnrra@jpeg)
November 27, 2025 at 12:54 AM
I'm sure a large percentage of people here on Bluesky have already read this recent xkcd, but if you have not, you really ought to do so.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Honestly, I think logic and rhetoric are worth teaching on their own merits: if done right, they can be a lot of fun. I'd probably not even wait til grad school and teach it at high school in considerable depth.
If nothing else, it might improve the overall quality of political discourse
If nothing else, it might improve the overall quality of political discourse
One way I am quite philosophically conservative is I do basically think that knowledge of logic (like the traditional discipline including in its modern mathematical format) makes one better at following and reconstructing ordinary language arguments, and thus should be mandatory for grad students.
November 26, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Honestly, I think logic and rhetoric are worth teaching on their own merits: if done right, they can be a lot of fun. I'd probably not even wait til grad school and teach it at high school in considerable depth.
If nothing else, it might improve the overall quality of political discourse
If nothing else, it might improve the overall quality of political discourse
As a philosophy major I had to take Elementary Logic and enjoyed it. The professor was great--almost a textbook nutty math/philosophy prof; quirky, animated, smart--and I learned a lot, though the last third or so of the class become too difficult for me to follow (also a good experience to have!).
One way I am quite philosophically conservative is I do basically think that knowledge of logic (like the traditional discipline including in its modern mathematical format) makes one better at following and reconstructing ordinary language arguments, and thus should be mandatory for grad students.
November 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
As a philosophy major I had to take Elementary Logic and enjoyed it. The professor was great--almost a textbook nutty math/philosophy prof; quirky, animated, smart--and I learned a lot, though the last third or so of the class become too difficult for me to follow (also a good experience to have!).
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Public transport isn't just for Middle Earth. Narnia's getting in on the act!
I've drawn a subway map covering all 7 books of The Chronicles of Narnia. Follow the plots lines, but don't touch the third rail! #Narnia #Maps #Subway
You can buy prints on my Etsy store:
www.etsy.com/listing/4345...
I've drawn a subway map covering all 7 books of The Chronicles of Narnia. Follow the plots lines, but don't touch the third rail! #Narnia #Maps #Subway
You can buy prints on my Etsy store:
www.etsy.com/listing/4345...
November 26, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Public transport isn't just for Middle Earth. Narnia's getting in on the act!
I've drawn a subway map covering all 7 books of The Chronicles of Narnia. Follow the plots lines, but don't touch the third rail! #Narnia #Maps #Subway
You can buy prints on my Etsy store:
www.etsy.com/listing/4345...
I've drawn a subway map covering all 7 books of The Chronicles of Narnia. Follow the plots lines, but don't touch the third rail! #Narnia #Maps #Subway
You can buy prints on my Etsy store:
www.etsy.com/listing/4345...
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
From the MN Society for Professional Journalists: St. Paul police shot three photojournalists (MPR, Reuters, Sahan Journal) with "less lethal" munitions during an ICE operation yesterday. One had to go to the hospital. They say they were specifically targeted by St. Paul police.
November 26, 2025 at 5:47 PM
From the MN Society for Professional Journalists: St. Paul police shot three photojournalists (MPR, Reuters, Sahan Journal) with "less lethal" munitions during an ICE operation yesterday. One had to go to the hospital. They say they were specifically targeted by St. Paul police.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
If you've donated to Native Organizer Alliance and want to keep giving, you can check out some of the groups I've uplifted in previous years in this newsletter edition from last year:
Must-Reads and Some Ways to Support Native People This Weekend
"Colonialism has been destroying worlds for hundreds of years."
organizingmythoughts.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:01 PM
If you've donated to Native Organizer Alliance and want to keep giving, you can check out some of the groups I've uplifted in previous years in this newsletter edition from last year: