Josh Boucher
@jgboucher.bsky.social
Former academic. Local policy guy. MA-ite. All opinions are my own. I think about MTG daily — 🏳️🌈
Yep, this. It’s really anti-freedom to be forced to pay for and use a car. Folks should be free to choose the option that’s best for them, or even be able to switch it up
I know it's too much to read the words that many of us write, but what we are actually mad about are systems that force people into car dependency and policy choices that mean living somewhere walkable and bikeable with robust public transit is ridiculously expensive. We want to fix this!
December 17, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Yep, this. It’s really anti-freedom to be forced to pay for and use a car. Folks should be free to choose the option that’s best for them, or even be able to switch it up
Reposted by Josh Boucher
Conservatives hate what America is. Democrats should say that more.
Conservatives rebranded bigotry and every time the media uses “wokeness” as a euphemism they are helping a movement that it quite literally erasing the history marginalized people’s role in American life.
December 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Conservatives hate what America is. Democrats should say that more.
Reposted by Josh Boucher
so if you personally pay donald trump you get a fast track to a green card
trumpcard.gov is live and the million dollar fees are all referred to as “gifts” or “contributions” to an undisclosed party lol
December 14, 2025 at 3:08 PM
so if you personally pay donald trump you get a fast track to a green card
I don’t want to be rude, but man the comments on articles like this bum me out. No one knows how governments, especially local governments, work
December 13, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I don’t want to be rude, but man the comments on articles like this bum me out. No one knows how governments, especially local governments, work
Reposted by Josh Boucher
People like this need to be ticketed, but also mercilessly shamed
December 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM
People like this need to be ticketed, but also mercilessly shamed
Reposted by Josh Boucher
We're completely screwed if our response to measles is going to be asking antivaxxers - the most selfish and stupid people in our society - to voluntarily self-report and quarantine for 21 days each every time they get exposed
More than 250 people who were exposed to measles, including dozens of unvaccinated school-aged children, are quarantining in South Carolina as the state wrestles to contain an outbreak that has sickened more than 110 people.
Hundreds Quarantined in South Carolina as Measles Outbreak Shows No Sign of Slowing
The outbreak shows no signs of slowing, likely because of the affected area’s “lower-than-hoped-for vaccination coverage,” a state health official said.
nyti.ms
December 12, 2025 at 2:29 PM
We're completely screwed if our response to measles is going to be asking antivaxxers - the most selfish and stupid people in our society - to voluntarily self-report and quarantine for 21 days each every time they get exposed
Reposted by Josh Boucher
GIVEAWAY!
I have officially launched my token shop on Etsy! To celebrate, I'm giving away a "greatest hits" pack of Belle Époque proxies!
To enter:
1️⃣ Follow me
2️⃣ Like + Repost this post
I'll pick a winner on Dec 15, and ship worldwide!
Which is your favorite of this batch?!
I have officially launched my token shop on Etsy! To celebrate, I'm giving away a "greatest hits" pack of Belle Époque proxies!
To enter:
1️⃣ Follow me
2️⃣ Like + Repost this post
I'll pick a winner on Dec 15, and ship worldwide!
Which is your favorite of this batch?!
December 5, 2025 at 3:14 PM
GIVEAWAY!
I have officially launched my token shop on Etsy! To celebrate, I'm giving away a "greatest hits" pack of Belle Époque proxies!
To enter:
1️⃣ Follow me
2️⃣ Like + Repost this post
I'll pick a winner on Dec 15, and ship worldwide!
Which is your favorite of this batch?!
I have officially launched my token shop on Etsy! To celebrate, I'm giving away a "greatest hits" pack of Belle Époque proxies!
To enter:
1️⃣ Follow me
2️⃣ Like + Repost this post
I'll pick a winner on Dec 15, and ship worldwide!
Which is your favorite of this batch?!
Reposted by Josh Boucher
This description/reflection from @mattdinan.bsky.social on how he essentially delegitimized using LLMs as a way to outsource student thinking/writing is a model on how to work through your values and build a course around them. mattdinan.substack.com/p/the-ai-ske...
Permission Structures
How AI-skeptic Professors Can Still Help Students Write Papers
mattdinan.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
This description/reflection from @mattdinan.bsky.social on how he essentially delegitimized using LLMs as a way to outsource student thinking/writing is a model on how to work through your values and build a course around them. mattdinan.substack.com/p/the-ai-ske...
Reposted by Josh Boucher
I really, REALLY fucking hate the personalist character of this regime. It’s so grotesque and anti-American.
An insane political move. One of the recurring complaints about immigration in the U.S. is that those seeking asylum jump the line. This is line-jumping — but for rich people, not those in need.
December 10, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I really, REALLY fucking hate the personalist character of this regime. It’s so grotesque and anti-American.
The people that buy this will, unfortunately, also never buy into American values — those being, of course, those espoused by the Declaration of Independence
An insane political move. One of the recurring complaints about immigration in the U.S. is that those seeking asylum jump the line. This is line-jumping — but for rich people, not those in need.
December 10, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The people that buy this will, unfortunately, also never buy into American values — those being, of course, those espoused by the Declaration of Independence
Hey y'all should listen to WICN tonight at 6, where I'll be talking about trains and commuter rail for about a half hour 😎
December 8, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Hey y'all should listen to WICN tonight at 6, where I'll be talking about trains and commuter rail for about a half hour 😎
In the last two years, I've kept a log of how much I drive each month, and between fill ups. I don't want to share it all here, but the data is fun (none of which I particularly like! I wish I could drive less!)
B/w Jan-Nov 2025: I drove 6,726 miles, 611/month. I spent $540 on gas, $28.42/fillup
B/w Jan-Nov 2025: I drove 6,726 miles, 611/month. I spent $540 on gas, $28.42/fillup
December 7, 2025 at 3:41 PM
In the last two years, I've kept a log of how much I drive each month, and between fill ups. I don't want to share it all here, but the data is fun (none of which I particularly like! I wish I could drive less!)
B/w Jan-Nov 2025: I drove 6,726 miles, 611/month. I spent $540 on gas, $28.42/fillup
B/w Jan-Nov 2025: I drove 6,726 miles, 611/month. I spent $540 on gas, $28.42/fillup
Reposted by Josh Boucher
(clears throat)
Put your phone down while driving!
You’re not alone out there.
You’re not good at it.
You’re not special.
You’re not more important than anyone else.
Whatever you’re reading/typing can wait.
PUT IT DOWN!
Put your phone down while driving!
You’re not alone out there.
You’re not good at it.
You’re not special.
You’re not more important than anyone else.
Whatever you’re reading/typing can wait.
PUT IT DOWN!
December 6, 2025 at 3:01 PM
(clears throat)
Put your phone down while driving!
You’re not alone out there.
You’re not good at it.
You’re not special.
You’re not more important than anyone else.
Whatever you’re reading/typing can wait.
PUT IT DOWN!
Put your phone down while driving!
You’re not alone out there.
You’re not good at it.
You’re not special.
You’re not more important than anyone else.
Whatever you’re reading/typing can wait.
PUT IT DOWN!
I fucking bawled watching “Our Town.” What the fuck man 😭😭
December 6, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I fucking bawled watching “Our Town.” What the fuck man 😭😭
Reposted by Josh Boucher
"I do not think Kamala Harris' National Security Strategy would be cribbed from The Camp of the Saints, nor do I think she would have vaporized two dudes struggling to get back on a boat."
December 5, 2025 at 2:53 PM
"I do not think Kamala Harris' National Security Strategy would be cribbed from The Camp of the Saints, nor do I think she would have vaporized two dudes struggling to get back on a boat."
Reposted by Josh Boucher
The USPS posting a NINE BILLION DOLLAR LOSS!!! sounds terrible. Certainly worse than if you said "USPS costs thirty dollars per person per year" even though that means the same thing and more accurately describes a government service
December 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
The USPS posting a NINE BILLION DOLLAR LOSS!!! sounds terrible. Certainly worse than if you said "USPS costs thirty dollars per person per year" even though that means the same thing and more accurately describes a government service
Reposted by Josh Boucher
I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.
December 5, 2025 at 6:07 AM
I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.
Reposted by Josh Boucher
I say it a lot, but if you want to make an immediate impact get involved in local politics, especially if you're in a smaller community. Attend a planning board meeting. Run for town meeting. Meet with town employees. You can *actually* change things and make your community better.
I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.
December 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
I say it a lot, but if you want to make an immediate impact get involved in local politics, especially if you're in a smaller community. Attend a planning board meeting. Run for town meeting. Meet with town employees. You can *actually* change things and make your community better.
Reposted by Josh Boucher
They’re killing people as a twitter joke. It’s depraved. Can’t let yourself lose the capacity to be appalled and disgusted and outraged by this.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announces another boat strike in response to a request/wish from Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet.
December 5, 2025 at 2:28 AM
They’re killing people as a twitter joke. It’s depraved. Can’t let yourself lose the capacity to be appalled and disgusted and outraged by this.
Reposted by Josh Boucher
What a lede on this story: Man who complained about narrowing a road in order to protect pedestrians, so much that the city eventually reversed the change, then kills a woman on that very road with his car www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
America’s plan to protect pedestrians failed. A young woman’s death reveals why.
U.S. officials adopted Europe's Vision Zero initiative, but many cities have seen an increase in pedestrian fatalities despite efforts to improve road safety.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:55 PM
What a lede on this story: Man who complained about narrowing a road in order to protect pedestrians, so much that the city eventually reversed the change, then kills a woman on that very road with his car www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
Re: Pleasant St/122 MassDOT redesign. I’m sick and tired of the two old lines (1) no one bikes in Worcester, let’s not add more bike lanes! (2) Worcester is unique, we can’t make it like Boston! On (1) literally people feel unsafe biking, so maybe this can change that? (2) it’s not trying to be!
December 4, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Re: Pleasant St/122 MassDOT redesign. I’m sick and tired of the two old lines (1) no one bikes in Worcester, let’s not add more bike lanes! (2) Worcester is unique, we can’t make it like Boston! On (1) literally people feel unsafe biking, so maybe this can change that? (2) it’s not trying to be!
Reposted by Josh Boucher
WRRB hosted its 40th Annual Meeting!
The program featured a Panel of Worcester's City Managers: Michael O'Brien, Edward Augustus Jr., & Eric Batista; moderated by Kimberly Salmon of The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation.
Highlight Reel & Full Program: lnkd.in/eRwh2XJS.
The program featured a Panel of Worcester's City Managers: Michael O'Brien, Edward Augustus Jr., & Eric Batista; moderated by Kimberly Salmon of The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation.
Highlight Reel & Full Program: lnkd.in/eRwh2XJS.
December 4, 2025 at 3:37 PM
WRRB hosted its 40th Annual Meeting!
The program featured a Panel of Worcester's City Managers: Michael O'Brien, Edward Augustus Jr., & Eric Batista; moderated by Kimberly Salmon of The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation.
Highlight Reel & Full Program: lnkd.in/eRwh2XJS.
The program featured a Panel of Worcester's City Managers: Michael O'Brien, Edward Augustus Jr., & Eric Batista; moderated by Kimberly Salmon of The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation.
Highlight Reel & Full Program: lnkd.in/eRwh2XJS.
New comic book day is a weekly source of joy
December 3, 2025 at 10:54 PM
New comic book day is a weekly source of joy
Oh baby we love trade paperbacks here
December 1, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Oh baby we love trade paperbacks here
some fun little pick ups from New Haven today!
December 1, 2025 at 1:55 AM
some fun little pick ups from New Haven today!