Rob von Thaden
@rvontha.bsky.social
Denizen of the North Coast who cogitates about cognition, sacred texts, and other sundries. Should be writing about Galatians. (Views are my own)
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
the united states is currently being led by a bunch of little david dukes with a senescent outer-borough grand dragon at the top
Trump’s foreign policy isn’t “noninterventionism,” it is a kind of neo neo conservatism devoted to imposing authoritarian ethnonationalism abroad instead of democracy (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
December 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM
the united states is currently being led by a bunch of little david dukes with a senescent outer-borough grand dragon at the top
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
This post by the world’s richest and most divorced man on the site he bought to promote his far right extremism is ripped straight from the Klan messaging of the 1870s or the 1915 film Birth of a Nation that inspired the Klan’s rebirth as a PR stunt/Ponzi scheme/terrorist organization in the 1920s.
December 10, 2025 at 1:11 PM
This post by the world’s richest and most divorced man on the site he bought to promote his far right extremism is ripped straight from the Klan messaging of the 1870s or the 1915 film Birth of a Nation that inspired the Klan’s rebirth as a PR stunt/Ponzi scheme/terrorist organization in the 1920s.
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
main economic message from
the president is that you will be poorer and you will like it
the president is that you will be poorer and you will like it
Trump: "You can give up certain products. You could give up pencils. Because under the China policy, every child can get 37 pencils. They only need 1 or 2. They don't need that many. You always need steel. You don't need 37 dolls for your daughter. 2 or 3 is nice. So we're doing things right."
December 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
main economic message from
the president is that you will be poorer and you will like it
the president is that you will be poorer and you will like it
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
This whole conversation is propaganda to pay caregivers nothing and that grinds my gears in a very specific way.
Jimmy Fallon: "And do you use ChatGPT when raising your baby?"
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
December 10, 2025 at 2:18 AM
This whole conversation is propaganda to pay caregivers nothing and that grinds my gears in a very specific way.
🧵👇
When I’m accused of “technopessimism“ I counter that I’m not “pessimistic about technology“; I am opposed to the economic, political, and social project of upward wealth transfer that “AI” is being leveraged to bring about. If that phrasing is useful to others, then go ahead and use it.
December 10, 2025 at 2:39 AM
🧵👇
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
Remember when people said that his supporters weren't racist.... or that racism wasn't "salient" to understanding them.
Trump: "Ilhan Omar, whatever the hell her name is. With her little turban. I love her. She comes in, does nothing but bitch ... we ought to get her the hell out ... she's here illegally."
The crowd in Pennsylvania then starts chanting "send her back!"
The crowd in Pennsylvania then starts chanting "send her back!"
December 10, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Remember when people said that his supporters weren't racist.... or that racism wasn't "salient" to understanding them.
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
"I'm not in denial about [AI]. I'm in open rebellion."
Amen.
Amen.
“I am so bored by AI. One of the things I love about the theatre is AI can’t do it.”
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
December 10, 2025 at 12:11 AM
"I'm not in denial about [AI]. I'm in open rebellion."
Amen.
Amen.
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
Higher education, if done right, will transform you into a LIFELONG learner. I am curious about so many things because my curiosity was cultivated in college. A BA/BS is only the beginning. You should be reading, visiting museums, going to concerts, debating and discussing things for LIFE.
December 10, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Higher education, if done right, will transform you into a LIFELONG learner. I am curious about so many things because my curiosity was cultivated in college. A BA/BS is only the beginning. You should be reading, visiting museums, going to concerts, debating and discussing things for LIFE.
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
SCOOP — Gregg Phillips, a conspiracy theorist with no emergency management experience who helped produce the election-denying documentary ‘2000 Mules’ with Dinesh D’Souza and has faced numerous legal inquiries, has been named head of FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery.
My story:
My story:
Conspiracy theorist election denier given FEMA’s second-most important role
Gregg Phillips will lead the Office of Response and Recovery, “the heart of what FEMA does.”
www.thehandbasket.co
December 9, 2025 at 10:57 PM
SCOOP — Gregg Phillips, a conspiracy theorist with no emergency management experience who helped produce the election-denying documentary ‘2000 Mules’ with Dinesh D’Souza and has faced numerous legal inquiries, has been named head of FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery.
My story:
My story:
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
Not speaking about anyone in particular here.
Generalizing.
But:
IM SO FUCKING TIRED OF HEARING “HOW TO FIX EDUCATION” FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES ON IN A CLASSROOM.
Generalizing.
But:
IM SO FUCKING TIRED OF HEARING “HOW TO FIX EDUCATION” FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES ON IN A CLASSROOM.
December 9, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Not speaking about anyone in particular here.
Generalizing.
But:
IM SO FUCKING TIRED OF HEARING “HOW TO FIX EDUCATION” FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES ON IN A CLASSROOM.
Generalizing.
But:
IM SO FUCKING TIRED OF HEARING “HOW TO FIX EDUCATION” FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES ON IN A CLASSROOM.
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
I've been researching the idea of Unconditional Universal Basic Income since 2013. Here's a collection of findings I've compiled from various UBI experiments and studies of cash transfer programs around the world.
This will be a VERY LONG and ongoing thread focused entirely on empirical evidence. 🧵
This will be a VERY LONG and ongoing thread focused entirely on empirical evidence. 🧵
December 5, 2024 at 3:47 PM
I've been researching the idea of Unconditional Universal Basic Income since 2013. Here's a collection of findings I've compiled from various UBI experiments and studies of cash transfer programs around the world.
This will be a VERY LONG and ongoing thread focused entirely on empirical evidence. 🧵
This will be a VERY LONG and ongoing thread focused entirely on empirical evidence. 🧵
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
Remember, as Sean Duffy keeps telling us his ideas for air travel -- dress up nice for your flight! do a little workout before you get on too! -- this is an actual Good Thing We Wanted that Democrats secured for us before these assholes took it away
White House Scraps Cash Payments for Delayed or Canceled Flights
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Remember, as Sean Duffy keeps telling us his ideas for air travel -- dress up nice for your flight! do a little workout before you get on too! -- this is an actual Good Thing We Wanted that Democrats secured for us before these assholes took it away
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
This is actually a good example of why the customer model is wrong.
I wouldn't have chosen poetry writing, but UNC made me take a class. And it absolutely made me become a much better writer, with an eye to concision and an ear now trained to the rhythm of words. I'm a better historian as a result.
I wouldn't have chosen poetry writing, but UNC made me take a class. And it absolutely made me become a much better writer, with an eye to concision and an ear now trained to the rhythm of words. I'm a better historian as a result.
If you are providing me with an education that is low utility in the world then it’s a disservice. My composition class spent four weeks on poetry. I’m sorry, but that only would’ve been useful if I wanted to be a poet. I don’t need to know iambic pentameter in order to be a victim advocate.
December 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This is actually a good example of why the customer model is wrong.
I wouldn't have chosen poetry writing, but UNC made me take a class. And it absolutely made me become a much better writer, with an eye to concision and an ear now trained to the rhythm of words. I'm a better historian as a result.
I wouldn't have chosen poetry writing, but UNC made me take a class. And it absolutely made me become a much better writer, with an eye to concision and an ear now trained to the rhythm of words. I'm a better historian as a result.
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
I really wish we as a society had been more able to realize that Kleptocracies, are bad, actually, before being subsumed by one
September 22, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I really wish we as a society had been more able to realize that Kleptocracies, are bad, actually, before being subsumed by one
🧵
Do not accept the premise that education is to blame for abysmal jobs outcomes.
“The fantasy economy's framing of economic inequality… focuses exclusively on education…deflects attention away from decades of public policies and changing business practices that have…contributed to stagnating wages”
“The fantasy economy's framing of economic inequality… focuses exclusively on education…deflects attention away from decades of public policies and changing business practices that have…contributed to stagnating wages”
December 9, 2025 at 6:43 PM
🧵
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
REPEAT AFTER ME (but really, after Neil Kraus):
Wage stagnation and underemployment are not problems that education can fix. We cannot "upskill" students into well-paying jobs that do. not. exist.
Wage stagnation and underemployment are not problems that education can fix. We cannot "upskill" students into well-paying jobs that do. not. exist.
Do not accept the premise that education is to blame for abysmal jobs outcomes.
“The fantasy economy's framing of economic inequality… focuses exclusively on education…deflects attention away from decades of public policies and changing business practices that have…contributed to stagnating wages”
“The fantasy economy's framing of economic inequality… focuses exclusively on education…deflects attention away from decades of public policies and changing business practices that have…contributed to stagnating wages”
December 9, 2025 at 6:21 PM
REPEAT AFTER ME (but really, after Neil Kraus):
Wage stagnation and underemployment are not problems that education can fix. We cannot "upskill" students into well-paying jobs that do. not. exist.
Wage stagnation and underemployment are not problems that education can fix. We cannot "upskill" students into well-paying jobs that do. not. exist.
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
the neoliberal university administration playbook has one (1) rhetorical move:
- faculty are "hidebound," "stodgy," and "stuck in their ways"
- administration is "nimble," "innovative," and "forward-looking"
that's it. the whole playbook. every single time. over and over
- faculty are "hidebound," "stodgy," and "stuck in their ways"
- administration is "nimble," "innovative," and "forward-looking"
that's it. the whole playbook. every single time. over and over
every time i read about one of these college presidents promising to reinvent the liberal arts education i think of "marge v. the monorail"
Yes we all agree that this is the reason colleges are in trouble
December 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
the neoliberal university administration playbook has one (1) rhetorical move:
- faculty are "hidebound," "stodgy," and "stuck in their ways"
- administration is "nimble," "innovative," and "forward-looking"
that's it. the whole playbook. every single time. over and over
- faculty are "hidebound," "stodgy," and "stuck in their ways"
- administration is "nimble," "innovative," and "forward-looking"
that's it. the whole playbook. every single time. over and over
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
A rattle from ancient Mesopotamia, shaped like a pie crust or shell from the late third or early second millennium BCE. X-ray images show three pellets inside.
Quite a number of rattles have been unearthed in the region, some even shaped like animals.
📷 Dr K Wagensonner
Quite a number of rattles have been unearthed in the region, some even shaped like animals.
📷 Dr K Wagensonner
December 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM
A rattle from ancient Mesopotamia, shaped like a pie crust or shell from the late third or early second millennium BCE. X-ray images show three pellets inside.
Quite a number of rattles have been unearthed in the region, some even shaped like animals.
📷 Dr K Wagensonner
Quite a number of rattles have been unearthed in the region, some even shaped like animals.
📷 Dr K Wagensonner
🧵
The ”Women fight for Conrad Veidt” slogan was very real and used to market the formerly German, newly-minted British film star, recently released after being detained by the Nazis
December 9, 2025 at 4:52 PM
🧵
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
As I was just saying.
They will scale up random “schools” based on market speculation and then close them down when demand wanes. Thats the plan.
They will scale up random “schools” based on market speculation and then close them down when demand wanes. Thats the plan.
Yes we all agree that this is the reason colleges are in trouble
December 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
As I was just saying.
They will scale up random “schools” based on market speculation and then close them down when demand wanes. Thats the plan.
They will scale up random “schools” based on market speculation and then close them down when demand wanes. Thats the plan.
I had a book when I was younger that defined a recession as a depression that spares the wealthy
December 9, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
What is the best Christmas decoration and why is it these ceramic light-up trees
December 9, 2025 at 2:46 PM
What is the best Christmas decoration and why is it these ceramic light-up trees
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
Founders and framers: What we definitely don't want to have to deal with anymore is a king. Let's create a constitutional structure that spreads the power around.
Current Supreme Court: It's pretty obvious that the Constitution says the president is a king, only an idiot wouldn't see that.
Current Supreme Court: It's pretty obvious that the Constitution says the president is a king, only an idiot wouldn't see that.
December 9, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Founders and framers: What we definitely don't want to have to deal with anymore is a king. Let's create a constitutional structure that spreads the power around.
Current Supreme Court: It's pretty obvious that the Constitution says the president is a king, only an idiot wouldn't see that.
Current Supreme Court: It's pretty obvious that the Constitution says the president is a king, only an idiot wouldn't see that.
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
New pod! Mike talks to Susan Harvey about Ministries of Song
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
open.spotify.com/show/6uGXkAl...
And if you're enjoying the show: subscribe, rate, and review. It helps others find us!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
open.spotify.com/show/6uGXkAl...
And if you're enjoying the show: subscribe, rate, and review. It helps others find us!
December 9, 2025 at 2:05 PM
New pod! Mike talks to Susan Harvey about Ministries of Song
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
open.spotify.com/show/6uGXkAl...
And if you're enjoying the show: subscribe, rate, and review. It helps others find us!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
open.spotify.com/show/6uGXkAl...
And if you're enjoying the show: subscribe, rate, and review. It helps others find us!
Reposted by Rob von Thaden
Just imagining the gingerbread cookie makers working overtime to slap on little gingerbread dicks
Nothing says getting into the festive spirit like going online to shout at some biscuits
December 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Just imagining the gingerbread cookie makers working overtime to slap on little gingerbread dicks