Austin Wu
@austwu.bsky.social
(vague lyrics about history or economics) 🚰
https://linktr.ee/austwu
https://linktr.ee/austwu
not forgetting the other blind big cat at como zoo either! (willow the snow leopard) www.facebook.com/ComoZooConse...
November 25, 2025 at 2:56 AM
not forgetting the other blind big cat at como zoo either! (willow the snow leopard) www.facebook.com/ComoZooConse...
I think about this from time to time
November 25, 2025 at 12:20 AM
I think about this from time to time
it's also where united mine workers president john l. lewis got his start (both in coal mining and union organising)
November 25, 2025 at 12:12 AM
it's also where united mine workers president john l. lewis got his start (both in coal mining and union organising)
if des moines had the same relative population today as in 1960 it would be twice as populous as it actually is
November 24, 2025 at 11:48 PM
if des moines had the same relative population today as in 1960 it would be twice as populous as it actually is
in the des moines suburbs, be on the lookout for sinkholes from abandoned coal mines too!
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
in the des moines suburbs, be on the lookout for sinkholes from abandoned coal mines too!
fwiw, my problematic fave in japanese food, curry, got its start as nutritional food in the imperial japanese navy
November 24, 2025 at 11:34 PM
fwiw, my problematic fave in japanese food, curry, got its start as nutritional food in the imperial japanese navy
alas, gyoza are indeed a byproduct of the japanese invasion of china in the 1930s and 40s :/
![Gyōza are a Japanese version of jiaozi, developed from recipes brought back by Japanese colonizers returning from the Japanese-backed puppet state of Manchukuo in Northeast China after World War II. The word gyōza was likely adopted by Japanese settler colonists from the Manchu word giyose.[18][19] Many Japanese repatriates, already familiar with Chinese cuisine, opened yatai (food stalls) serving ramen and began offering gyōza as a side dish.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:3djarsef7db2co5bxoljpf7p/bafkreiey5vfu3fxboasp7ic4doh2puh32v7xrujk54s3yzl2zy22k3j4gi@jpeg)
November 24, 2025 at 11:32 PM
alas, gyoza are indeed a byproduct of the japanese invasion of china in the 1930s and 40s :/
an everlasting classic www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id...
November 22, 2025 at 8:47 PM
an everlasting classic www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id...
me_irl (we can have a _little_ high modernism, as a treat)
November 20, 2025 at 6:00 AM
me_irl (we can have a _little_ high modernism, as a treat)
bears resemblence to a pepperball gun of some sort (fires irritants like pepper spray) -- note AR-15-style stock, reflex sight, top-mounted magazine/hopper
comparison doesn't seem to be a 100% match; just for reference: pepperball.com/launchers/ta...
comparison doesn't seem to be a 100% match; just for reference: pepperball.com/launchers/ta...
November 18, 2025 at 5:10 PM
bears resemblence to a pepperball gun of some sort (fires irritants like pepper spray) -- note AR-15-style stock, reflex sight, top-mounted magazine/hopper
comparison doesn't seem to be a 100% match; just for reference: pepperball.com/launchers/ta...
comparison doesn't seem to be a 100% match; just for reference: pepperball.com/launchers/ta...
growing up in iowa, learning about valley forge in school almost felt like an ancient fable. but for the civil war - IA was on the underground railroad, contributed troops to the front, and in turn the capitol is adorned with the Gettysburg Address and the emblem of the Grand Army of the Republic
November 18, 2025 at 3:31 AM
growing up in iowa, learning about valley forge in school almost felt like an ancient fable. but for the civil war - IA was on the underground railroad, contributed troops to the front, and in turn the capitol is adorned with the Gettysburg Address and the emblem of the Grand Army of the Republic
retro-futurism (what if the mid-century centennial hopium never died out)
November 17, 2025 at 7:42 PM
retro-futurism (what if the mid-century centennial hopium never died out)
man.jpg
www.nber.org/system/files...
www.nber.org/system/files...
November 17, 2025 at 7:04 PM
man.jpg
www.nber.org/system/files...
www.nber.org/system/files...
it's the Southernization of the US, many are saying (at least in the midwest, I think this is at least correlated with the decline of comparatively institutionalized, urban mainline churches and their displacement by southern baptist-inflected suburban evangelical megachurches)
November 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM
it's the Southernization of the US, many are saying (at least in the midwest, I think this is at least correlated with the decline of comparatively institutionalized, urban mainline churches and their displacement by southern baptist-inflected suburban evangelical megachurches)
tbh I kinda get some of the trad sympathies (who wouldn't want respite from the contemporary world of AI slop and microplastics), but ig my version of 'trad' is like ... the utility furniture catalogue from the attlee-era UK (and associated labour values)? not mythical notions pre-pasteurisation --
November 17, 2025 at 6:39 PM
tbh I kinda get some of the trad sympathies (who wouldn't want respite from the contemporary world of AI slop and microplastics), but ig my version of 'trad' is like ... the utility furniture catalogue from the attlee-era UK (and associated labour values)? not mythical notions pre-pasteurisation --
intriguing article in @thebaffler.com about this household -- including, incredibly enough, another set-piece video of her making bread in denim and an unstained white t-shirt (sans apron) -- thebaffler.com/salvos/land-...
November 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
intriguing article in @thebaffler.com about this household -- including, incredibly enough, another set-piece video of her making bread in denim and an unstained white t-shirt (sans apron) -- thebaffler.com/salvos/land-...
Not about to hand it to railroad tycoon James J. Hill, but at least he had his tastefully-designed residence built in a walkable neighbourhood, had a tangible business (trains), and appeared to fear for his immortal soul enough to apply his name towards a variety of educational and civic matters
November 17, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Not about to hand it to railroad tycoon James J. Hill, but at least he had his tastefully-designed residence built in a walkable neighbourhood, had a tangible business (trains), and appeared to fear for his immortal soul enough to apply his name towards a variety of educational and civic matters
In a similar vein, I've always appreciated Sufjan Stevens' recording of "The Friendly Beasts" for its instruction of aid to all, regardless of (appeared) station in life sufjanstevens.bandcamp.com/track/the-fr...
![Jesus our brother, strong and good
Was humbly born in a stable [room]
And the friendly beasts around Him stood
Jesus our brother, strong and good
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown
"I carried His mother up hill and down
I carried His mother to Bethlehem town"
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown
"I," said the cow, all white and red
"I gave Him my manger for His bed
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head"
"I," said the cow, all white and red
"I," said the sheep with curly horn
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm
He wore my coat on Christmas morn"
"I," said the sheep with curly horn
"I," said the dove from the rafters high
"I cooed Him to sleep so that He would not cry
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I"
"I," said the dove from the rafters high
Thus every beast by some good spell
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel
The gift he gave Emmanuel](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:3djarsef7db2co5bxoljpf7p/bafkreif7jzq2lqtf4t564gyshjw74yaffz6h2durcauphgxnm3p2bt24bm@jpeg)
November 17, 2025 at 6:14 PM
In a similar vein, I've always appreciated Sufjan Stevens' recording of "The Friendly Beasts" for its instruction of aid to all, regardless of (appeared) station in life sufjanstevens.bandcamp.com/track/the-fr...