Jason Baluyut
LightNews LightNews
banner
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Jason Baluyut
@jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
400 followers 200 following 990 posts
I like to write and photograph stuff. I might get political. No to cruelty and broken systems; yes to kindness, love, and openness to possibility. He/him. Also on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Jason Baluyut @jasonbaluyut.bsky.social · Feb 15
Hello Bluesky! Hoping this is a place where I can share photos, geek out about music/literature/astronomy/other obsessions, and signal-boost like-minded folks trying to stay compassionate, sane, and human in these terrible times.

Here’s some blue sky from my neighborhood. See you around!
A streetlight and a flock of pigeons alighting on a building against a clear blue sky.
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Koffein” / Caffeine

Warming up a stroopwafel over some masala chai.

#photography #tea #breakfast #stroopwafel
A large stroopwafel rests on top of a white mug, completely covering the rim except for where a bite has been taken out of it, revealing brown chai underneath. The mug sits on a dining table among other breakfast items.
November 30, 2025 at 4:20 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#SilentSunday

#photography #autumn #autumnvibes #clouds #cloudscape #sky #brooklyn
Photo taken on a tree-lined residential street, looking upwards. The sky is heavily with mammatus clouds, luminous with patterns of light and bluish shadow. It’s framed on all sides by the leaves and branches of trees in their autumn colors and a row of brownstone apartments at the bottom of the image.
November 30, 2025 at 12:13 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Resharing for #FotoVorschlag
“Koffein” / Caffeine

A vintage Faema E61 espresso machine at my local ice cream parlor.

#photography #urbanphotography #streetphotography #brooklyn #nyc #vintage
Photo of a scene inside an ice cream parlor (Brooklyn Farmacy). Some notable elements: A Faema E61 vintage espresso machine — a long metal box in an illuminated red border with a horizontal stripe along the middle — sits on a black counter, flanked by stacked glasses and a water pitcher. The wall behind the counter displays a blackboard sign that reads “Enjoy! HOT CHOCOLATE with TOASTED MARSHMALLOW” handwritten in chalk. A half-spherical ceiling light hangs from a slender stem extending from a patterned tin ceiling. A soda jerk (ice cream parlor worker) in a white hat, white shirt and blue apron walks in from left frame, blurred by his motion. The scene feels cozy, dominated by brown and black tones, in shadows and soft glows.
November 30, 2025 at 12:03 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Koffein” / Caffeine

Two views of a cup of egg coffee at Hidden Gem Cafe in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. It was literally the best coffee I’ve ever had.

#photography #Vietnam #coffee
Photo of a cup of coffee on a blue saucer atop a saffron-colored table, viewed from slightly above. The cup is made of dark brown clay or ceramic with decorative light-colored leaf silhouettes on the side. The coffee is topped with a light, frothy cream. A dark brown floral, leafy design has been “drawn” into the foam by the barista. Another view of the same cup of coffee as in the previous image. The latte art has been stirred into the drink, and a spoon is lifting some of the cream out, demonstrating how thick it is. In the background is a blurred glimpse of a patterned blue shirt and a black handbag.
November 30, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
tiffanycaban.bsky.social
Today, our brave neighbors refused to let go of anyone’s hand. They put their bodies on the line to stop ICE kidnappings. I’m proud that my bill to clarify & strengthen our sanctuary laws & stop ICE from setting up in any of our jails is being heard on 12/8. We must fight to protect our neighbors.
November 29, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
priver.dev
I found a flowchart which helps you navigate the IT landscape
October 1, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
augieray.bsky.social
Stop thinking of COVID as if it's an acute cold. Think of it as a neuroinvasive virus you can get every year or two that slowly degrades your brain in ways that will harm your abilities and quality of life throughout your life. (2/?)
July 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
megpillow.bsky.social
We live in a fascist, warmongering society that has been communicating through policy and action for years that vulnerable ppl can get fucked and that what matters in life is money and fame. We have continually made decisions that prioritize our comfort over meaningful change. This is our fault.
November 29, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
megpillow.bsky.social
I really struggle with threads like this because while there’s truth here, and OP states they’re not dunking on kids, we’re still avoiding who created this problem. It’s us. It’s adults. This is a natural consequence of repeatedly failing our children, and it’s our collective responsibility.
jesbattis.bsky.social Jes Battis @jesbattis.bsky.social · 1d
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
November 29, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
johnrogers.bsky.social
It was Downey who coined the phrase in the LEVERAGE writers room “future episodes do not win out over present episodes”. Trust me, you’ll have more ideas. You’ll die full of them.
antonyjohnston.bsky.social Antony Johnston @antonyjohnston.bsky.social · May 21
WRITING TIP, something simple but it catches many of us out: if you have a great/fun idea for your story, *use it now*.

Don’t save your ideas for some nebulous other story you might write tomorrow. I promise you’ll have more.

Break your story’s status quo. Go a step further. Use the big idea.
November 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#Fotovorschlag
“In der Innenstadt” / In the city center

I’m not sure what the “center” of New York is. But for me, the heart of the city is its public library.

#photography #urbanphotography #architecture #sculpture #NYPL #libraries #nyc
Photo of the exterior of the main research branch of the New York Public Library. The sunlit statue of Patience the lion sits on its stone pedestal in front of the library’s grand Beaux-Arts marble facade, with its columns, arches, and frieze of sculpted figures. On the left and right sides of the building are tall vertical banners bearing the rainbow design of the Pride flag, over which are printed the words LIBRARIES ARE FOR EVERYONE and PROTECT THE FREEDOM TO READ.
November 29, 2025 at 2:26 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Resharing for #Fotovorschlag
“In der Innenstadt” / In the city center

#photography #urbanphotography #streetphotography #nightphotography #timessquare #nyc
A nighttime view of Times Square, NYC, looking down 7th Avenue from around 50th Street. Traffic flows in a river of red taillights through a canyon of buildings awash in pink light. In the foreground stand a leafless tree and a sign that reads LEFT TURN LANE with a helpful arrow. Pedestrians cross the street at bottom frame and mill about the sidewalks. Signs and banners project from the sides of buildings, most prominently a pink vertical ad that reads SONIC3 (for the “Sonic the Hedgehog” sequel). In the distance is the high-rise building of the Marriott W Hotel, with a large “W” sign at the top.
November 29, 2025 at 1:12 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“In der Innenstadt” / In the city center

The dragons of Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard, facing Ho Chi Minh City Hall, in Saigon, #Vietnam.

#photography #urbanphotography #streetphotography #dragon #sculpture #publicart
Photo of a series of swooping arches over a wide pedestrian avenue receding to a building in the distance. The arches have scales and fins in hues of orange and green, and the arch at the far end bears a sculpted dragon’s head. The effect is of a dragon’s long body encircling the avenue, leading the eye to a statue of a man with one arm raised (Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh) in front of a palatial facade. Trees and shrubs line the sides of the avenue, and the sky seen through the dragon arches is blue with white clouds.
November 29, 2025 at 1:07 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Max’s paws for #Caturday

#photography #cats #catsofbluesky
Photo of a gray tabby cat lying on his side on a wooden table, his head lifted up and looking back at the viewer with a mildly annoyed expression. His back paws are in the extreme foreground and appear distorted and much larger. In the background is a brown closet door in a white wall and a doorway leading to a shadowy interior.
November 29, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
ghostalservice.bsky.social
Help the Trans Youth Emergency Project: they need it more than ever now 🏳️‍⚧️💙

southernequality.app.neoncrm.com/forms/60
November 28, 2025 at 11:34 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FensterFreitag
The view from our window last weekend as we had some work done on our facade.

#photography #windows #window #WindowFriday #lightandshadow
Photo of a window taken in a darkened room. Through horizontal blinds we see a sheet of transparent plastic taped up against the glass, softening a view of a workman’s legs standing on scaffolding. In the distance is a hazy view of a red brick building with rows of sunlit windows.
November 28, 2025 at 11:25 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Herbst (Typisch)” / Autumn (typical)

#photography #autumn #autumnleaves #autumnvibes #autumncolors #reflection
Photo of a car windshield reflecting partially bare tree branches against an overcast sky. Fallen yellow leaves are scattered across the glass.
November 28, 2025 at 11:05 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Herbst (Typisch)” / Autumn (typical)

#photography #autumn #autumnleaves #autumnvibes #autumncolors #brooklyn #nyc
Photo of a residential city street seen through tree branches with yellow-gold leaves. At the center of the image the sun shines through the branches with a starburst effect, backlighting the leaves and giving them a luminous glow. In the distance is a row of brownstone apartments, the roofline angled because of the viewer’s perspective. The building is heavily shadowed so that the yellow leaves in the lower half of the photo pop out against the dark background.
November 28, 2025 at 10:58 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Graffiti”

The front gate of Abbey Road Studios, from a trip years ago. The outer wall was a mess of heartfelt scribbles from Beatles fans, and I added to it as well. I’d like to think it’s still there.

#photography #streetphotography #graffiti #beatles
A black placard mounted on a gate outside a parking lot, with a building in the background. The placard reads “Please don’t write here, there and everywhere. Keep it to our wall,” with “here, there and everywhere” in yellow letters and the rest of the words in white. Handwritten graffiti messages are scrawled all over the sign and the bars of the gate.
November 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Graffiti”

An old fire alarm call box in Red Hook. I don’t remember if I’ve shared this before, but “transphobes are shitheads” is always a message worth amplifying. 💗🏳️‍⚧️

#photography #streetphotography #graffiti #stickers #stickerart #brooklyn #nyc #pride
Photo of a vintage red fire alarm call box attached to a wooden pole on a street in Red Hook, Brooklyn. It’s plastered with overlapping stickers with various text and images. At the center is a rectangular sticker with all-caps white letters on a black background that reads, “TRANSPHOBES ARE SHITHEADS.”
November 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#DoorsDay
Happy Harvest Day from unceded Lenape land. I denounce this day’s historical whitewashing of genocide. But I’ll take today and every day as a chance to be grateful for life’s blessings, and a call to be kind and do better.

#nationaldayofmourning #photography #thanksgiving #brooklyn #nyc
Photo of a door at the top of a stoop in a brownstone building in Brooklyn, partly obscured by some branches with red berries in the foreground. The door has an arched top and decorative wood paneling. On the steps in front of it are a variety of large and small pumpkins. The image is in rich autumn tones of red, orange, and brown.
November 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Resharing for #DoorsDay and #FotoVorschlag - “Graffiti”

#photography #urbanphotography #streetphotography #door #graffiti #nyc
Photo of a high rectangular building entrance consisting of double doors with tall transom windows, framed in black and covered in graffiti. The doors have a grid of glass panels on their upper halves. The windows above are almost as tall as the doors themselves, and reflect the rows of windows of the building across the street (behind camera). The central window displays the number “23” in large red numerals. Text graffiti covers the lower doors and the narrow side panel to the right, as well as part of the upper windows; the text is mostly white with some red, though the most prominent graffiti is “Tomas” in large turquoise letters at the bottom of the doors. The doors are set in a light-colored building wall, with a handrail attached to the building wall at lower right.
November 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
mskellymhayes.bsky.social
Every year around this time, I ask folks to consider doing something in support of Native people. This year, please join me in supporting the Native Organizers Alliance as they build grassroots power, defend Native voting rights, and equip our people for collective struggle through skill-building.
Donate - Native Organizers Alliance
Supporting organizing and advocacy initiatives for Indigenous justice.
nativeorganizing.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
A giant #skeleton in my neighborhood, as seen on October 31 — and the day after. One version is, of course, a reminder of death and destruction; the other is a naked Halloween skeleton. #Unthanksgiving #NationalDayOfMourning

#photography #monochrome #halloween #thanksgiving #selectivecolor
Black and white photo of a giant Halloween skeleton in an apartment building’s front yard, appearing to reach out menacingly toward any passersby, a chain dangling from one wrist. It’s almost as tall as the tree behind it, which has a regular-sized skeleton draped over a lower branch. Photo of the same skeleton as the previous image, but dressed in a Pilgrim’s black hat and robes and holding an inflated balloon shaped like a turkey leg. The image is in black and white except for the brown turkey leg and the reddish ribbon around the hat.
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Farbe: Schwarz-Weiss / Keine sw-Bilder!”
Color: Black and white / no bw photos

An overcast London sky, on a trip many years ago.

#photography #monochrome #monochromeincolor #trees #tree #silhouette
Silhouette of a tree with short, stubby branches against a moody, overcast sky with other trees in the background. To my eye it looks like a Joshua tree, though I took this photo in London which is not part of their natural habitat. The image is a full-color photo but is in a monochrome palette of black, white and gray.
November 26, 2025 at 3:26 PM