Rod Townsend
@rodtownsend.bsky.social
Gen X gay guy in Astoria, NY
Political whisperer, especially in lgbtq+ & nyc.
Manage national directory of lgbtq+ dem clubs (http://stonewalldems.us).
Reader of biography, history, comics.
See you on the dance floor.
Put away your phone occasionally.
Political whisperer, especially in lgbtq+ & nyc.
Manage national directory of lgbtq+ dem clubs (http://stonewalldems.us).
Reader of biography, history, comics.
See you on the dance floor.
Put away your phone occasionally.
Pinned
Rod Townsend
@rodtownsend.bsky.social
· Nov 10
I finally pulled the plug and deactivated my Twitter account, abandoning an almost 2K following of folks into LGBTQ+ and NYC politics, Astoria happenings, Gen X opinion, & whatever quirky rabbit holes I’d chase down.
I’m starting from scratch.
🎶 “There's a new girl in town and she's looking good.”🎶
I’m starting from scratch.
🎶 “There's a new girl in town and she's looking good.”🎶
Reposted by Rod Townsend
I used to write a "best of" blah blah blah list for a website every month and the push is always for affiliate links not for what's actually good. You won't see indie brands on these ever.
November 25, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I used to write a "best of" blah blah blah list for a website every month and the push is always for affiliate links not for what's actually good. You won't see indie brands on these ever.
Reposted by Rod Townsend
An ICE employee was among 16 men arrested after trying to solicit a minor for sex in Bloomington, Minnesota, police say
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said during a press conference. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said during a press conference. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
November 19, 2025 at 2:34 AM
An ICE employee was among 16 men arrested after trying to solicit a minor for sex in Bloomington, Minnesota, police say
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said during a press conference. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said during a press conference. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
ANNUAL QUESTION:
What is a good audio book (or two or three) for a two fourteen hour drives?
Last year I listened to Oliver Twist by Dickens, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, and Carsick by John Waters.
I have some history podcasts queued up, but need more recommendations!
What is a good audio book (or two or three) for a two fourteen hour drives?
Last year I listened to Oliver Twist by Dickens, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, and Carsick by John Waters.
I have some history podcasts queued up, but need more recommendations!
November 19, 2025 at 4:31 PM
ANNUAL QUESTION:
What is a good audio book (or two or three) for a two fourteen hour drives?
Last year I listened to Oliver Twist by Dickens, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, and Carsick by John Waters.
I have some history podcasts queued up, but need more recommendations!
What is a good audio book (or two or three) for a two fourteen hour drives?
Last year I listened to Oliver Twist by Dickens, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, and Carsick by John Waters.
I have some history podcasts queued up, but need more recommendations!
Love seeing millennials become the new "wait your turn" folks of politics. They are and have always been Neo-Boomers.
November 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Love seeing millennials become the new "wait your turn" folks of politics. They are and have always been Neo-Boomers.
The rent is frozen!
Everything is frozen!
Everything is frozen!
November 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
The rent is frozen!
Everything is frozen!
Everything is frozen!
Reposted by Rod Townsend
FREEZE WARNING for NYC
🕐 1 AM to 9 AM Tuesday. Sub-freezing temperatures now expected.
🐾 Keep pets safe. Bring animals indoors overnight.
🚰 Protect pipes from freezing.
🧥 Dress warmly.
🚗 Frost likely on windshields, sidewalks, and other surfaces.
Stay safe neighbors!
🕐 1 AM to 9 AM Tuesday. Sub-freezing temperatures now expected.
🐾 Keep pets safe. Bring animals indoors overnight.
🚰 Protect pipes from freezing.
🧥 Dress warmly.
🚗 Frost likely on windshields, sidewalks, and other surfaces.
Stay safe neighbors!
November 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
FREEZE WARNING for NYC
🕐 1 AM to 9 AM Tuesday. Sub-freezing temperatures now expected.
🐾 Keep pets safe. Bring animals indoors overnight.
🚰 Protect pipes from freezing.
🧥 Dress warmly.
🚗 Frost likely on windshields, sidewalks, and other surfaces.
Stay safe neighbors!
🕐 1 AM to 9 AM Tuesday. Sub-freezing temperatures now expected.
🐾 Keep pets safe. Bring animals indoors overnight.
🚰 Protect pipes from freezing.
🧥 Dress warmly.
🚗 Frost likely on windshields, sidewalks, and other surfaces.
Stay safe neighbors!
Kim Davis can go back under her bridge now.
November 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Kim Davis can go back under her bridge now.
Good, quick read and a reminder that even on Bluesky, social media isn't always right.
A man collapsed in the Oval Office yesterday. The internet got the story wrong.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
A man collapsed in the Oval Office. The internet got the story wrong.
A case study in how bad information can spread — and how hard it is to correct it.
dandiamond.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Good, quick read and a reminder that even on Bluesky, social media isn't always right.
I need to be following more people that have already seen the Ziwe interview with Eric Adams.
November 7, 2025 at 3:19 AM
I need to be following more people that have already seen the Ziwe interview with Eric Adams.
The line goes around the corner at this early voting site in Astoria, yet there are zero canvassers for any campaign here
November 2, 2025 at 8:01 PM
The line goes around the corner at this early voting site in Astoria, yet there are zero canvassers for any campaign here
OMG
City & State has it: $2M
October 30, 2025 at 1:01 AM
OMG
I have received more mail from the City Council on this than I have in my entire life in this city. I really really really want to know how much they spent.
Mayor Adams’ misleading ballot proposals 2 & 3 claim to “fast-track” housing but they don't fix the source of delays: 700+ days of agency reviews.
Instead, they just remove our democratic vote and review, which is *65 days* max. That’s not a fast-track.
Instead, they just remove our democratic vote and review, which is *65 days* max. That’s not a fast-track.
October 29, 2025 at 10:36 PM
I have received more mail from the City Council on this than I have in my entire life in this city. I really really really want to know how much they spent.
The renewal for my rent stabilized apartment is sitting on my desk at home as I was pondering taking a one or two year renewal. This hinged on whether the next mayor could "freeze" the rent next year or if it would take more time.
Based on this article, I'll be signing for a two year lease.
Based on this article, I'll be signing for a two year lease.
The mayoral candidate’s signature promise has given tenants hope — and rattled some landlords. Here’s a guide on what a possible Mayor Mamdani can and can’t do.
Can Zohran Mamdani Really Freeze the Rent?
The mayoral candidate’s signature promise has given tenants hope — and rattled some landlords. Here’s a guide on what a possible Mayor Mamdani can and can’t do.
buff.ly
October 27, 2025 at 1:41 PM
The renewal for my rent stabilized apartment is sitting on my desk at home as I was pondering taking a one or two year renewal. This hinged on whether the next mayor could "freeze" the rent next year or if it would take more time.
Based on this article, I'll be signing for a two year lease.
Based on this article, I'll be signing for a two year lease.
Reposted by Rod Townsend
Not sure the folks at NBC/Peacock thought this one through
October 18, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Not sure the folks at NBC/Peacock thought this one through
Why was there no budget for her background?
October 17, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Why was there no budget for her background?
Happy "Your Mobile Deposit Cannot Be Processed Because Bankers Are at Their Country House" Day.
October 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Happy "Your Mobile Deposit Cannot Be Processed Because Bankers Are at Their Country House" Day.
Reposted by Rod Townsend
So they're going to release a plague on us.
NEWS: The federal govt is sending NYC’s top disease control official to Arizona for a months-long stint at an Indian Health Service facility.
That could complicate local infectious disease response efforts.
“If we have an outbreak, then we’re fucked,” a city health department staffer told me.
That could complicate local infectious disease response efforts.
“If we have an outbreak, then we’re fucked,” a city health department staffer told me.
October 1, 2025 at 8:56 PM
So they're going to release a plague on us.
September 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Anybody else refreshing their feed looking for some Eric Adams news?
September 28, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Anybody else refreshing their feed looking for some Eric Adams news?
Reposted by Rod Townsend
I would love for a single democrat to reckon with the fact that conservatives are not in fact motivated by reasonable concerns. They are — just as they were with ‘concerns’ over blacks and gays and numerous other minorities over the last five decades — motivated by bigotry.
September 20, 2025 at 8:18 AM
I would love for a single democrat to reckon with the fact that conservatives are not in fact motivated by reasonable concerns. They are — just as they were with ‘concerns’ over blacks and gays and numerous other minorities over the last five decades — motivated by bigotry.
Race Chaser
And the Rest is History
You Decide with Errol Louis
Maintenance Phase
How Was Your Week?
If Books Could Kill
Throughline
And the Rest is History
You Decide with Errol Louis
Maintenance Phase
How Was Your Week?
If Books Could Kill
Throughline
dating apps should just make men list their top 5 podcasts
September 17, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Race Chaser
And the Rest is History
You Decide with Errol Louis
Maintenance Phase
How Was Your Week?
If Books Could Kill
Throughline
And the Rest is History
You Decide with Errol Louis
Maintenance Phase
How Was Your Week?
If Books Could Kill
Throughline
Reposted by Rod Townsend
Here are the _public_ email addresses for the reporters and the standards editor listed on the WSJ site.
Standards editor:
[email protected]
Journalists who wrote the article:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Politely and peacefully demand a retraction and an apology.
Standards editor:
[email protected]
Journalists who wrote the article:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Politely and peacefully demand a retraction and an apology.
Transgender people are owed a retraction and apology from @wsj.com. The lie has already become canon to millions and it seems the least they could do.
From the Charlie Kirk press conference:
September 12, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Here are the _public_ email addresses for the reporters and the standards editor listed on the WSJ site.
Standards editor:
[email protected]
Journalists who wrote the article:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Politely and peacefully demand a retraction and an apology.
Standards editor:
[email protected]
Journalists who wrote the article:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Politely and peacefully demand a retraction and an apology.
Fuck these unfuckable fucks.
September 6, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Fuck these unfuckable fucks.