Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
@matt12l.bsky.social
Assistant Ketchup Sommelier - center fielder 1908 Chicago Brown Sox’s - third chair kazoo of the Whoville municipal brass band
Motto: “We all need more equality and less bullsh!t”
Motto: “We all need more equality and less bullsh!t”
Things I’m sick of defending: the value of reading.
December 1, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Things I’m sick of defending: the value of reading.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
He might think that, but Kissinger got away with what he did socially and politically because he was seen as an intellectual giant and also somewhat interesting at parties.
Miller is an off-putting freak whose diet consists entirely of mayonnaise
Miller is an off-putting freak whose diet consists entirely of mayonnaise
It’s been said: Henry Kissinger.
December 1, 2025 at 2:07 AM
He might think that, but Kissinger got away with what he did socially and politically because he was seen as an intellectual giant and also somewhat interesting at parties.
Miller is an off-putting freak whose diet consists entirely of mayonnaise
Miller is an off-putting freak whose diet consists entirely of mayonnaise
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
Give them a C-
if this is discrimination, I’m genuinely unsure what you’re supposed to do when a student responds to a prompt with some religious gibberish
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
December 1, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Give them a C-
If @klobuchar.senate.gov is so damn smart and good at politics why has DJT been elected president twice? Why can’t anyone manage to hold that degenerate freak and the people who have enabled him accountable? What the hell are you going to do about this going forward?
December 1, 2025 at 1:00 AM
If @klobuchar.senate.gov is so damn smart and good at politics why has DJT been elected president twice? Why can’t anyone manage to hold that degenerate freak and the people who have enabled him accountable? What the hell are you going to do about this going forward?
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
This is every Big 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC, etc school.
OU wants to be a semi-pro football program with a vocational training school attached.
OU doesn’t want to be a university.
November 30, 2025 at 10:42 PM
This is every Big 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC, etc school.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
An outrage machine seeking a cause of the day; a media happy to launder it; socials up in arms; administrators rolling over in an instant; all to destroy some random grad student and make them treat every piece-of-shit reaction memo put in front of them as if it were the Federalist Papers. Gross.
November 30, 2025 at 10:58 PM
An outrage machine seeking a cause of the day; a media happy to launder it; socials up in arms; administrators rolling over in an instant; all to destroy some random grad student and make them treat every piece-of-shit reaction memo put in front of them as if it were the Federalist Papers. Gross.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
Condolences to the students at OU who *were* working hard, doing the course work and earning good grades long before the administration there decreed that you only need to say "as the Bible teaches" and be done with it.
I'm sorry your university hates you and hope you can transfer somewhere good.
I'm sorry your university hates you and hope you can transfer somewhere good.
If I was working at OU, I would just start handing out 100's to every student and stop writing comments.
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
November 30, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Condolences to the students at OU who *were* working hard, doing the course work and earning good grades long before the administration there decreed that you only need to say "as the Bible teaches" and be done with it.
I'm sorry your university hates you and hope you can transfer somewhere good.
I'm sorry your university hates you and hope you can transfer somewhere good.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
This.
The second strike is important bc AFTER that one, they started leaving survivors (plus, why the fuck can't Whiskey Pete's DOD manage to destroy a boat in uncontested waters the first strike?).
But all these are murder. Murder murder murder murder.
The second strike is important bc AFTER that one, they started leaving survivors (plus, why the fuck can't Whiskey Pete's DOD manage to destroy a boat in uncontested waters the first strike?).
But all these are murder. Murder murder murder murder.
The first strike was also murder. You can’t just up and kill civilians on the high seas and then claim you were at war with them.
Reporter: If there were a second strike that killed wounded people, would that be legal?
Trump: I don’t know that happened and Pete said he did not even know what people were talking about. I wouldn’t have wanted a second strike. The first strike was very lethal. It was fine.
Trump: I don’t know that happened and Pete said he did not even know what people were talking about. I wouldn’t have wanted a second strike. The first strike was very lethal. It was fine.
December 1, 2025 at 12:13 AM
This.
The second strike is important bc AFTER that one, they started leaving survivors (plus, why the fuck can't Whiskey Pete's DOD manage to destroy a boat in uncontested waters the first strike?).
But all these are murder. Murder murder murder murder.
The second strike is important bc AFTER that one, they started leaving survivors (plus, why the fuck can't Whiskey Pete's DOD manage to destroy a boat in uncontested waters the first strike?).
But all these are murder. Murder murder murder murder.
This is an interesting thread on how “strong floors, no ceiling” might not actually be aspirational but for the venture capitalist who proposed it. Like the Abundance rhetoric it’s dead in the water as long as the Felon47 administration and its GOP enablers are ripping off the country and engaged
This will probably get me yelled at, because I can see the consensus forming here that "strong floors, no ceiling" is the dumbest of all possible slogans. I would argue that it's actually not that bad, but that it's wrong for this moment (please read 🧵before yelling at me)...
November 30, 2025 at 11:03 PM
This is an interesting thread on how “strong floors, no ceiling” might not actually be aspirational but for the venture capitalist who proposed it. Like the Abundance rhetoric it’s dead in the water as long as the Felon47 administration and its GOP enablers are ripping off the country and engaged
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
For the record, this is the point of having a “warrior” culture, to having notions of honor attached to the military profession is so that dishonor can is feared. Military service is honored but if you fail to uphold standards—including refusing illegal orders—you must be dishonored.
This is also why I hate hearing “it’s hard to disobey orders.” It’s hard to endure danger. It’s hard to not give up information. That’s precisely why there must be no ground given on the matter—when you bear arms, you take on that responsibility and must endure the consequences if you fail.
anyways read theory. american soldiers do not swear loyalty to the commander-in-chief. they swear loyalty to the constitution. the difference matters--not in sunny skies and good weather, but on bad days, when you are pressed to the breaking point--that is precisely when it matters most.
November 30, 2025 at 8:37 PM
For the record, this is the point of having a “warrior” culture, to having notions of honor attached to the military profession is so that dishonor can is feared. Military service is honored but if you fail to uphold standards—including refusing illegal orders—you must be dishonored.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
The Car and Oil industries are going to work overtime to paint ebikes as dangerous instead of a solution to the danger of cars, and legacy corporate media like the NYT are going to help them
November 30, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The Car and Oil industries are going to work overtime to paint ebikes as dangerous instead of a solution to the danger of cars, and legacy corporate media like the NYT are going to help them
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
Same as it ever was; to provide sex for the students, sports for the alumni and parking for the faculty.
LSU is paying its previous football coach over $50 million NOT to coach there while likely guaranteeing Kiffin something approaching double that, all while having an academic hiring freeze and budget cuts across the board. What is the purpose of a university (rhetorical)?
SOURCES: Lane Kiffin is expected to accept LSU's offer to become the Tigers next head coach. Kiffin is set to meet with his Ole Miss team this morning at 9 AM CT. As we reported yesterday morning, LSU has been very confident it was going to land Kiffin. www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
November 30, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Same as it ever was; to provide sex for the students, sports for the alumni and parking for the faculty.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
Tech oligarchs have been scrambling for products to retain dominance since the plateau of the home computer and mobile phone. Today, they're forcing 'AI' garbage on us while pushing for mass surveillance and war products, even if they have to make the wars to service them. We can reject this future.
November 30, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Tech oligarchs have been scrambling for products to retain dominance since the plateau of the home computer and mobile phone. Today, they're forcing 'AI' garbage on us while pushing for mass surveillance and war products, even if they have to make the wars to service them. We can reject this future.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
Pretty simple, really.
“Hitler was bad. The people who suggest otherwise are also bad. The people who tolerate, promote and permit the pro-Hitler camp to thrive within their political movements or their social media platforms are also bad.”
Hitler was bad.
An essay that, you know, I didn’t think I’d need to write.
An essay that, you know, I didn’t think I’d need to write.
November 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Pretty simple, really.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
German-speaking academia was at the absolute forefront in the early 20th century before the Nazis and never really recovered from the tremendous damage done then, and it's starting to feel like Anglophone research could be going the same way
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
November 30, 2025 at 10:41 AM
German-speaking academia was at the absolute forefront in the early 20th century before the Nazis and never really recovered from the tremendous damage done then, and it's starting to feel like Anglophone research could be going the same way
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
"But Moscow does not see Europe as a formidable adversary. To be an enemy is to deserve respect. In Moscow’s eyes, Europe is prey. And the predator has long been watching the prey attentively, calculating how long it will take to catch and devour it."
borisbondarev.substack.com/p/the-wests-...
borisbondarev.substack.com/p/the-wests-...
The West’s Double Fear: Putin Outside, Voters Inside
A Democracy That Fears and Distrusts Its People Cannot Survive
borisbondarev.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:21 AM
"But Moscow does not see Europe as a formidable adversary. To be an enemy is to deserve respect. In Moscow’s eyes, Europe is prey. And the predator has long been watching the prey attentively, calculating how long it will take to catch and devour it."
borisbondarev.substack.com/p/the-wests-...
borisbondarev.substack.com/p/the-wests-...
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
Remember one particular conversation with a former civil servant in his living room in 2019 who said it was all about "sovereignty“ and "democracy“, as there was no "European Demos“. Then, I went to Scotland, where plenty of people told me there was no "British Demos“.
🤔
🤔
In my experience this is what many Brexit supporters have been saying in private for years (‘the economic cost was worth it in exchange for sovereignty…’) so good to see it going public.
November 30, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Remember one particular conversation with a former civil servant in his living room in 2019 who said it was all about "sovereignty“ and "democracy“, as there was no "European Demos“. Then, I went to Scotland, where plenty of people told me there was no "British Demos“.
🤔
🤔
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
Thisssssssss. "Individualized public health" is something that's been brewing for over a half a century. I teach this concept at the end of my History of Public Health class and it's a difficult one for students to grasp, but SO important!
We wouldn't have landed in this era of "you do you" and "individualized public health" if we hadn't had a half century or so of health policy decomposinng into a series of individual consumerist choices and moralizing around lifestyle.
November 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Thisssssssss. "Individualized public health" is something that's been brewing for over a half a century. I teach this concept at the end of my History of Public Health class and it's a difficult one for students to grasp, but SO important!
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
support our troops
So grateful to everyone in NYC who mobilized to stop the ICE raid of Canal St. The violence being committed against immigrants is heart-wrenching, but the shows of solidarity we have seen around the country give me so much hope.
November 30, 2025 at 12:45 PM
support our troops
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
It's very helpful to remember: we organized and we won a lot of good shit.
That scared entrenched power shitless, and this moment is that hierarchy's struggle to reassert itself.
If we beat it back and demand a rebuilding that is liberatory, we can win even better shit.
That scared entrenched power shitless, and this moment is that hierarchy's struggle to reassert itself.
If we beat it back and demand a rebuilding that is liberatory, we can win even better shit.
Like, very obviously, many things have improved! My kids get accommodations in school that would have been unthinkable in the 90s! Gay marriage is, right now, legal! If you spend all day thinking about how much worse things are you're basically talking yourself into being a reactionary
November 30, 2025 at 12:51 PM
It's very helpful to remember: we organized and we won a lot of good shit.
That scared entrenched power shitless, and this moment is that hierarchy's struggle to reassert itself.
If we beat it back and demand a rebuilding that is liberatory, we can win even better shit.
That scared entrenched power shitless, and this moment is that hierarchy's struggle to reassert itself.
If we beat it back and demand a rebuilding that is liberatory, we can win even better shit.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
When Mark Carney sets specific goals for Canada to "diversify away" from its reliance on the US—making headlines in Canada but not the US—hear that for what it is: Close partners and allies looking elsewhere for better friends.
This is the silent way that the US loses its pointless trade war.
This is the silent way that the US loses its pointless trade war.
November 30, 2025 at 12:52 PM
When Mark Carney sets specific goals for Canada to "diversify away" from its reliance on the US—making headlines in Canada but not the US—hear that for what it is: Close partners and allies looking elsewhere for better friends.
This is the silent way that the US loses its pointless trade war.
This is the silent way that the US loses its pointless trade war.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
I just want to re-boost, because I’m the ugliness of generative AI, it’s easy to forget that there are legitimate uses that were ethically modeled —and this is one:
This is a legitimate scientific revolution in meteorology.
Also, to be clear, these models are not the AI LLMs that most people are familiar with. They are machine learning algorithms trained on observations (actually reanalysis).
Also, to be clear, these models are not the AI LLMs that most people are familiar with. They are machine learning algorithms trained on observations (actually reanalysis).
Meteorologists are surprised that the weather model that did the best job forecasting hurricanes this year was a new one, introduced by Google. AI may be the beginning of a new era of forecasting. n.pr/49MFa1M
November 30, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I just want to re-boost, because I’m the ugliness of generative AI, it’s easy to forget that there are legitimate uses that were ethically modeled —and this is one:
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
My parents said that if I got a tattoo I'd have to get it in a place that didn’t matter... So I got it in Appleton, Wisconsin.
November 30, 2025 at 1:31 PM
My parents said that if I got a tattoo I'd have to get it in a place that didn’t matter... So I got it in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
The billionaires who own much of the the infrastructure of our 21st century lives have progressively enshittified that infrastructure while expanding their wealth, and then they scold us for being small-souled peasants who don’t believe in progress anymore.
it is amazing how so much tech gets unremittingly worse year on year at whatever you once used it for and less pleasant to use and more bound up with creepy politics as well as personal and environmental harms and yet also still less productive of actual goods and these are somehow great visionaries
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
The billionaires who own much of the the infrastructure of our 21st century lives have progressively enshittified that infrastructure while expanding their wealth, and then they scold us for being small-souled peasants who don’t believe in progress anymore.
Reposted by Matt “Holding on for a Gyro" L
Every Western politician should know this quote by heart before opining on Russia-Ukraine. Of course the Russians want peace—it’s quite inconvenient for them that the Ukrainians are contesting their conquest!
“The aggressor is always peace-loving (as Bonaparte always claimed to be); he would prefer to take over our country unopposed.” -Clausewitz
Not saying the soldiers who were sent there were evil, they were figthing for their country.
What I condemn was the actions of Margaret Thatcher wich caused hundreds of deaths.
And the dictatorship oppressing Argentina didn't care much about winning war, just sent thousands of conscripts
What I condemn was the actions of Margaret Thatcher wich caused hundreds of deaths.
And the dictatorship oppressing Argentina didn't care much about winning war, just sent thousands of conscripts
November 30, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Every Western politician should know this quote by heart before opining on Russia-Ukraine. Of course the Russians want peace—it’s quite inconvenient for them that the Ukrainians are contesting their conquest!