Potempkin Village Idiot
@ixak.bsky.social
Baltimore climate dad anthropologist fighting existential terror w/ existential counter-terrorism. The soft underbelly of the cutting edge. Working on resilience, local governance, urban gardening, tool repair, fermentation.
https://medium.com/@ixak
https://medium.com/@ixak
Pinned
Conversation w/ my son:
Him: What was your favorite movie when you were a kid?
Me: Short Circuit
What's it about?
A robot who comes to life.
What was your favorite movie when you became a grownup?
Blade Runner
What's it about?
A guy who hunts and kills robots who have come to life.
Him: What was your favorite movie when you were a kid?
Me: Short Circuit
What's it about?
A robot who comes to life.
What was your favorite movie when you became a grownup?
Blade Runner
What's it about?
A guy who hunts and kills robots who have come to life.
Tonight I made the best bacon and eggs spaghetti I've ever made.
Been hankering to make pasta carbonara. Last night I ran into a chef from an Italian joint where I used to work. Asked for recipe advice, but I kept referring to it as "bacon & eggs spaghetti"
He acted like he didn't notice, but his right eye was visibly twitching by the end of the conversation.
He acted like he didn't notice, but his right eye was visibly twitching by the end of the conversation.
December 4, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Tonight I made the best bacon and eggs spaghetti I've ever made.
Been hankering to make pasta carbonara. Last night I ran into a chef from an Italian joint where I used to work. Asked for recipe advice, but I kept referring to it as "bacon & eggs spaghetti"
He acted like he didn't notice, but his right eye was visibly twitching by the end of the conversation.
He acted like he didn't notice, but his right eye was visibly twitching by the end of the conversation.
December 4, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Been hankering to make pasta carbonara. Last night I ran into a chef from an Italian joint where I used to work. Asked for recipe advice, but I kept referring to it as "bacon & eggs spaghetti"
He acted like he didn't notice, but his right eye was visibly twitching by the end of the conversation.
He acted like he didn't notice, but his right eye was visibly twitching by the end of the conversation.
Reposted by Potempkin Village Idiot
abolishing ice is the compromise
it finally happened -- a good student of mine vanished from class about six weeks ago. this student reappeared today and explained that they had been in ICE detention in another state during that time. ICE needs to end. ICE needs to end. ICE needs to end.
December 4, 2025 at 10:07 AM
abolishing ice is the compromise
Interviewer: What was your main takeaway from the last project of this nature that you worked on?
Me: Binder clips.
Me: Binder clips.
December 3, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Interviewer: What was your main takeaway from the last project of this nature that you worked on?
Me: Binder clips.
Me: Binder clips.
FB reminded me that seven years ago my grandmother Emily passed away. I miss her very much.
So here's a song that she and I both loved.
So here's a song that she and I both loved.
Volare - Domenico Modugno (subtitulada)
YouTube video by Kühn Aa Productions
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 3:41 PM
FB reminded me that seven years ago my grandmother Emily passed away. I miss her very much.
So here's a song that she and I both loved.
So here's a song that she and I both loved.
Oscar Wilde would have had the best bsky feed.
December 3, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Oscar Wilde would have had the best bsky feed.
I'm convinced that 90% or more of the US objection to DC statehood is the idea of a new flag. If DC residents simply said, "Statehood, but keep the Reagan flag!" We'd probably also get statehood for Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands almost immediately thereafter.
NEW: Republican-led states, in a new filing at the D.C. Circuit, say D.C. residents are irrelevant, D.C. belongs to everyone else. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The filing is led by the South Carolina and West Virginia attorneys general. Both states sent troops to DC.
The filing is led by the South Carolina and West Virginia attorneys general. Both states sent troops to DC.
December 3, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I'm convinced that 90% or more of the US objection to DC statehood is the idea of a new flag. If DC residents simply said, "Statehood, but keep the Reagan flag!" We'd probably also get statehood for Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands almost immediately thereafter.
Love this.
My most-used words in 2025 were:
1. "baltimore" (76×)
2. "community" (50×)
3. "garden" (49×)
4. "school" (42×)
5. "morning" (40×)
See which words you used the most here: anisota.net/harvest
My most-used words in 2025 were:
1. "baltimore" (76×)
2. "community" (50×)
3. "garden" (49×)
4. "school" (42×)
5. "morning" (40×)
See which words you used the most here: anisota.net/harvest
Anisota's Annual Bluesky Harvest 2025
A recap of your year on Bluesky. Discover patterns, connections, and insights from your journey in the ATmosphere.
anisota.net
December 3, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Love this.
My most-used words in 2025 were:
1. "baltimore" (76×)
2. "community" (50×)
3. "garden" (49×)
4. "school" (42×)
5. "morning" (40×)
See which words you used the most here: anisota.net/harvest
My most-used words in 2025 were:
1. "baltimore" (76×)
2. "community" (50×)
3. "garden" (49×)
4. "school" (42×)
5. "morning" (40×)
See which words you used the most here: anisota.net/harvest
Reposted by Potempkin Village Idiot
Federal Government Announces Racial Profiling Campaign, Explains It’s Because of the President’s Personal Bigotry
Officials prepare immigration operation in Minnesota that would focus on Somali immigrants, source tells AP, as Trump says he doesn't want Somalis in U.S.
Federal authorities plan operation in Minnesota focusing on Somali immigrants, AP source says
Federal authorities are preparing an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, focusing on Somali immigrants living unlawfully in the U.S.
bit.ly
December 2, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Federal Government Announces Racial Profiling Campaign, Explains It’s Because of the President’s Personal Bigotry
My 9-year-old son, trying to talk about temperature, just used the term "fahrenhesher" (which I think is a cross between Fahrenheit & barometric pressure).
I'm going to say right now the Fahrenhesher is three.
I'm going to say right now the Fahrenhesher is three.
December 2, 2025 at 10:06 PM
My 9-year-old son, trying to talk about temperature, just used the term "fahrenhesher" (which I think is a cross between Fahrenheit & barometric pressure).
I'm going to say right now the Fahrenhesher is three.
I'm going to say right now the Fahrenhesher is three.
Getting the jump on one of my goals for next year: clearing the weird & unused shit out of my liquor cabinet. Last night I started on the Luxardo, making "The Last Word"
Subbed Underberg for chartreuse, so didn't get the lovely pale green color. Flavor was incredibly complex. Too complex.
7/10
Subbed Underberg for chartreuse, so didn't get the lovely pale green color. Flavor was incredibly complex. Too complex.
7/10
December 2, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Getting the jump on one of my goals for next year: clearing the weird & unused shit out of my liquor cabinet. Last night I started on the Luxardo, making "The Last Word"
Subbed Underberg for chartreuse, so didn't get the lovely pale green color. Flavor was incredibly complex. Too complex.
7/10
Subbed Underberg for chartreuse, so didn't get the lovely pale green color. Flavor was incredibly complex. Too complex.
7/10
Reposted by Potempkin Village Idiot
It’s important to note from a military perspective that if a subordinate is about to give an unlawful order & his senior knows about it, it’s also a requirement for the senior official to stop him from executing it. And then counsel/discipline him.
So there’s that, too.
So there’s that, too.
December 2, 2025 at 1:58 AM
It’s important to note from a military perspective that if a subordinate is about to give an unlawful order & his senior knows about it, it’s also a requirement for the senior official to stop him from executing it. And then counsel/discipline him.
So there’s that, too.
So there’s that, too.
Reposted by Potempkin Village Idiot
It’s wild that right wing grifting is so easy that you can screw up your homework on purpose or tie for 5th place at a swim meet and get a whole ass career out of it
December 1, 2025 at 8:58 PM
It’s wild that right wing grifting is so easy that you can screw up your homework on purpose or tie for 5th place at a swim meet and get a whole ass career out of it
21st century political violence in the US doesn't really come from the left. It comes almost entirely from one of two places:
1. The far right.
2. Neurotic weirdos overwhelmed by pain and chaos with unmappable political opinions.
1. The far right.
2. Neurotic weirdos overwhelmed by pain and chaos with unmappable political opinions.
“we failed a veteran” is the ultimate story here and if I were a soldier currently being asked to do war crimes on Trump’s behalf I would consider this instructive
Suspect in National Guard attack struggled with 'dark isolation' as community raised concerns
Emails obtained by the Associated Press show that the Afghan man accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House had been unraveling for years.
www.latimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:19 AM
21st century political violence in the US doesn't really come from the left. It comes almost entirely from one of two places:
1. The far right.
2. Neurotic weirdos overwhelmed by pain and chaos with unmappable political opinions.
1. The far right.
2. Neurotic weirdos overwhelmed by pain and chaos with unmappable political opinions.
Wrote a letter of recommendation for a former colleague & dear friend this morning, and while I was doing it I was reminded of this phrase:
"Speak your friends' names in rooms of opportunity."
"Speak your friends' names in rooms of opportunity."
December 1, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Wrote a letter of recommendation for a former colleague & dear friend this morning, and while I was doing it I was reminded of this phrase:
"Speak your friends' names in rooms of opportunity."
"Speak your friends' names in rooms of opportunity."
Somebody gave my 4-year-old son a heat-retaining stuffed-animal goose that you warm up by putting it in the microwave for a minute.
As a lifelong fan of cozy hot water bottles, I'm in full support of this idea, but sticking a goose in a microwave is also kind of creeping me out.
As a lifelong fan of cozy hot water bottles, I'm in full support of this idea, but sticking a goose in a microwave is also kind of creeping me out.
December 1, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Somebody gave my 4-year-old son a heat-retaining stuffed-animal goose that you warm up by putting it in the microwave for a minute.
As a lifelong fan of cozy hot water bottles, I'm in full support of this idea, but sticking a goose in a microwave is also kind of creeping me out.
As a lifelong fan of cozy hot water bottles, I'm in full support of this idea, but sticking a goose in a microwave is also kind of creeping me out.
You've just died.
Sixth picture in your photo gallery is what killed you.
There are worse ways to go.
Sixth picture in your photo gallery is what killed you.
There are worse ways to go.
December 1, 2025 at 1:56 PM
You've just died.
Sixth picture in your photo gallery is what killed you.
There are worse ways to go.
Sixth picture in your photo gallery is what killed you.
There are worse ways to go.
Reposted by Potempkin Village Idiot
Extraordinary WSJ reporting today that unveils the extent to which Trump, Witkoff, Kushner and US business executives are salivating over business deals with Russia while Putin’s forces kidnap Ukranian children and bomb civilians in their apartments.
🎁 www.wsj.com/world/russia...
🎁 www.wsj.com/world/russia...
November 29, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Extraordinary WSJ reporting today that unveils the extent to which Trump, Witkoff, Kushner and US business executives are salivating over business deals with Russia while Putin’s forces kidnap Ukranian children and bomb civilians in their apartments.
🎁 www.wsj.com/world/russia...
🎁 www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Imagine, if you will, a homeland for llamas.
What you might call an "alpacastan"
What you might call an "alpacastan"
December 1, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Imagine, if you will, a homeland for llamas.
What you might call an "alpacastan"
What you might call an "alpacastan"
Just put a set of arch support insoles into a brand new pair of Doc Martens and I'm all the sudden so much taller it makes me feel like I'm being dishonest.
December 1, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Just put a set of arch support insoles into a brand new pair of Doc Martens and I'm all the sudden so much taller it makes me feel like I'm being dishonest.
Spend more time with my kids and my partner. Spend more time in the garden. See my friends more. Learn how to do more stuff. Teach a free class or two at the local free school. Start playing in a band again.
Honest question: If everyone got Universal Basic Income, no strings attached, what would YOU do with it?
Re-post with your quote or drop your take below.
Re-post with your quote or drop your take below.
November 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Spend more time with my kids and my partner. Spend more time in the garden. See my friends more. Learn how to do more stuff. Teach a free class or two at the local free school. Start playing in a band again.
Hey, Kissinger's been dead for two years!
November 29, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Hey, Kissinger's been dead for two years!
Reposted by Potempkin Village Idiot
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
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 7:19 PM
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Chicken & waffles means something very different in central PA than it does elsewhere.
The traditional Southern version is just regular waffles served alongside fried chicken. A nice mix of sweet/savory components. The PA version (i.e., PA Dutch) is shredded chicken in gravy, ladled over a waffle...
The traditional Southern version is just regular waffles served alongside fried chicken. A nice mix of sweet/savory components. The PA version (i.e., PA Dutch) is shredded chicken in gravy, ladled over a waffle...
November 28, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Chicken & waffles means something very different in central PA than it does elsewhere.
The traditional Southern version is just regular waffles served alongside fried chicken. A nice mix of sweet/savory components. The PA version (i.e., PA Dutch) is shredded chicken in gravy, ladled over a waffle...
The traditional Southern version is just regular waffles served alongside fried chicken. A nice mix of sweet/savory components. The PA version (i.e., PA Dutch) is shredded chicken in gravy, ladled over a waffle...
Van Hollen remains S-tier by simply doing his job, genuinely helping people, and not being a creepy focus-group chasing weirdo.
Van Hollen is being personally credited as the chief pressure point that made Israel release a Palestinian teenager with American citizenship from their dungeons, where he was held for 9 months without even a criminal charge.
⭕️ Sen. Chris Van Hollen (@vanhollen.senate.gov) credited for key role in release of US teen from Israeli detention
Palestinian-American child Mohammed Ibrahim, 16, was freed today after 9 months of Israeli imprisonment w/o charge. Journalist Jasper Nathaniel, who has been a major advocate for...
Palestinian-American child Mohammed Ibrahim, 16, was freed today after 9 months of Israeli imprisonment w/o charge. Journalist Jasper Nathaniel, who has been a major advocate for...
November 28, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Van Hollen remains S-tier by simply doing his job, genuinely helping people, and not being a creepy focus-group chasing weirdo.