Pinned
Mark Blacknell
@blacknell.bsky.social
· Sep 12
This summer, we signed up for a week of dive lessons. I’d never really learned how to use a diving board.
It was an hour a day of throwing my body into the air and hoping I did it right. It was some of the most fun I’ve had in years, and I’m so glad we did it.
(First in a series of Good Things)
It was an hour a day of throwing my body into the air and hoping I did it right. It was some of the most fun I’ve had in years, and I’m so glad we did it.
(First in a series of Good Things)
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
You may not outlive them in years, but you must outlive them while you're here!
November 17, 2025 at 2:26 PM
You may not outlive them in years, but you must outlive them while you're here!
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
A symbolic denounement to the British empire: after centuries of plunder produced little more than a mostly-calm island with modest social benefits, the state is left to plunder at home from the pockets of asylum seekers, extracting a last morsel of flesh from those with nothing while fleeing hell.
The Sun has been told Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will on Monday propose confiscating jewellery, watches, necklaces from asylum seekers to meet asylum costs
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
November 17, 2025 at 12:25 PM
A symbolic denounement to the British empire: after centuries of plunder produced little more than a mostly-calm island with modest social benefits, the state is left to plunder at home from the pockets of asylum seekers, extracting a last morsel of flesh from those with nothing while fleeing hell.
Just learned yesterday that my middle and high school kids get access to generative AI via their school Canva accounts. Feels like a direct attack on their creativity and learning, and if I can find a way to disable that access, I will.
Banning cellphones has been a top priority for many US school districts, but where educators should focus their attention next is clear: the use of generative artificial intelligence products, write Sorelle Friedler and Nicol Turner Lee.
Schools Went After Cellphones. Now It’s Time to Ban Generative AI. | TechPolicy.Press
After banning cellphones in many US schools, educators should turn next to generative AI products, write Sorelle Friedler and Nicol Turner Lee.
buff.ly
November 16, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Just learned yesterday that my middle and high school kids get access to generative AI via their school Canva accounts. Feels like a direct attack on their creativity and learning, and if I can find a way to disable that access, I will.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
Just gonna reiterate this for the Fuck The South constituencies. The South isn’t just the people who cheat their way to victories
I worked for both the House Dems in the AL state legislature and the Black caucus and those people worked harder with less than any blue state Dems I worked with
November 15, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Just gonna reiterate this for the Fuck The South constituencies. The South isn’t just the people who cheat their way to victories
This is a really great piece, & does an excellent job of pointing at good music criticism/media sources.
It also made me feel terrible b/c I read it & think "No, I do not have the time to find new music writers I like, & I just wish the Apple Music algorithm worked as well as the Spotify one does."
It also made me feel terrible b/c I read it & think "No, I do not have the time to find new music writers I like, & I just wish the Apple Music algorithm worked as well as the Spotify one does."
How to find music you will love without the algorithm
To find music you will love, stop letting the algorithm take the reins and start listening with intention.
www.theverge.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:37 PM
This is a really great piece, & does an excellent job of pointing at good music criticism/media sources.
It also made me feel terrible b/c I read it & think "No, I do not have the time to find new music writers I like, & I just wish the Apple Music algorithm worked as well as the Spotify one does."
It also made me feel terrible b/c I read it & think "No, I do not have the time to find new music writers I like, & I just wish the Apple Music algorithm worked as well as the Spotify one does."
This is the kind of thinking (& future action) we need wrt to the Supreme Court. Its continued existence is incompatible with our democracy and Constitutional form of government.
And I don't want to hear "but that's not how it worrrrks" whinging from lawyers who haven't caught up to 2025. Grow up.
And I don't want to hear "but that's not how it worrrrks" whinging from lawyers who haven't caught up to 2025. Grow up.
What I first said in sarcasm I increasingly think is a real thing to consider:
Move SCOTUS to a strip mall in rural Kansas.
We can’t fire them. Impeachment* is functionally dead. The 18-yr term thing is a fantasy.
But we can kill a lot of their perks.
Bet Kav would retire fast.
Move SCOTUS to a strip mall in rural Kansas.
We can’t fire them. Impeachment* is functionally dead. The 18-yr term thing is a fantasy.
But we can kill a lot of their perks.
Bet Kav would retire fast.
Devastating piece on the human toll of Kavanaugh Stops.
Especially infuriating to know that rich white guys like Brett K can simply close their eyes to the human suffering their racist jurisprudence has unleashed.
Especially infuriating to know that rich white guys like Brett K can simply close their eyes to the human suffering their racist jurisprudence has unleashed.
November 15, 2025 at 6:29 PM
This is the kind of thinking (& future action) we need wrt to the Supreme Court. Its continued existence is incompatible with our democracy and Constitutional form of government.
And I don't want to hear "but that's not how it worrrrks" whinging from lawyers who haven't caught up to 2025. Grow up.
And I don't want to hear "but that's not how it worrrrks" whinging from lawyers who haven't caught up to 2025. Grow up.
Well this is a new one.
![[AlertDC] US Secret Service reports simulated cannon fire will occur around the White House complex now through 3:00 p.m.
For more info https://evbg.co/78vq1h .](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qphomynbliyd3bjbnhuhfwc2/bafkreidenjs7ehrrvjauvhafkw3rl3jo3ketmnf7xpxxamztmo6pbjxp2u@jpeg)
November 15, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Well this is a new one.
A really nifty and genuinely enjoyable read.
This week's newsletter looks at a new book on mapping — and includes some maps I made that put economic disparities into an interesting perspective.
www.howtoreadthisch.art/putting-the-...
www.howtoreadthisch.art/putting-the-...
Putting the real world down on paper
This week's newsletter looks at how we use maps. I review a new book on the subject, interview a mapmaker and show how maps can reshape our assumptions about borders. It's all topped off with what I t...
www.howtoreadthisch.art
November 15, 2025 at 3:16 PM
A really nifty and genuinely enjoyable read.
Good thing they didn't create this as an app in the Apple store, eh?
This is cool. COURIER has created a searchable database with all 20,000 of the files just released from Epstein’s estate.
Trump's name appears in them more than anyone else, in 1,628 documents.
couriernewsroom.com/news/we-crea...
Trump's name appears in them more than anyone else, in 1,628 documents.
couriernewsroom.com/news/we-crea...
We created a searchable database with all 20,000 files from Epstein’s Estate
Easily find every mention of Trump, Clinton, blackmail, and potential sex crimes in the thousands of private messages between Epstein and his close associates.
couriernewsroom.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Good thing they didn't create this as an app in the Apple store, eh?
Every solidly Democratic jurisdiction should be doing the same. Game it out, find the failure points, and then put in a plan to overcome them.
"I’m told that Mamdani’s team and other New York officials have already begun quiet but urgent preparations for hostile deployments from ICE, the National Guard, or both."
Read about it in the latest edition of Huddled Masses from @adriancarrasquillo.bsky.social: www.thebulwark.com/p/after-zohr...
Read about it in the latest edition of Huddled Masses from @adriancarrasquillo.bsky.social: www.thebulwark.com/p/after-zohr...
After Zohran’s Win, Trump Is Coming for New York
An inside look at NYC’s preparations for when Trump sends in the National Guard and an ICE and CBP surge.
www.thebulwark.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Every solidly Democratic jurisdiction should be doing the same. Game it out, find the failure points, and then put in a plan to overcome them.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
Get out of the house, enjoy some Fall weather, and make an IMPACT at Impact Happy Hour! We'll be at the National Landing Water Park TODAY from 5-7pm - we'll drink, chat, and TAKE ACTION to improve car-free mobility in Arlington. Hope to see you!
RSVP to Impact Happy Hour
Join us for Impact Happy Hour, this Friday November 11th from 5pm-7pm at the National Landing Water Park. It'll be a chill, social hang-out and a chance to take some time to give feedback at the Arlington's Transportation Future Pop-up as well as take action on the important Action Alerts currently accepting feedback! Dress for the weather, we'll be outside!
susmo.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Get out of the house, enjoy some Fall weather, and make an IMPACT at Impact Happy Hour! We'll be at the National Landing Water Park TODAY from 5-7pm - we'll drink, chat, and TAKE ACTION to improve car-free mobility in Arlington. Hope to see you!
Hey, DC, was that a V-22/Osprey flyover? Didn't see it, but certainly heard and felt it.
November 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Hey, DC, was that a V-22/Osprey flyover? Didn't see it, but certainly heard and felt it.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
Just thinking about all the Never Employee This Kid lists people like Ackman put together of pro Palestinian protesters and how quiet they are about shit like this:
RAISE YOUR CHILDREN SO THEY DO NOT DO THINGS LIKE THIS dailyfreepress.com/11/13/10/216...
BU College Republicans president says he called ICE to ‘detain these criminals’ at Allston Car Wash
The president of Boston University College Republicans wrote on X he called the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requesting it detain employees at Allston Car Wash, the site of a Nov. 4 raid w...
dailyfreepress.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Just thinking about all the Never Employee This Kid lists people like Ackman put together of pro Palestinian protesters and how quiet they are about shit like this:
In the end, a competent & honest (& expanded) Sup Court will have to come to the (obvious) conclusion that the pardon power as exercised by this president is wholly illegitimate, voiding a good number of purported exercises of it. That's going to be a heavy lift, but morons like Martin are helping.
New in PN: Ed Martin's peculiar view of pardon power
"Since Martin neither knows what he’s doing or cares whether it’s legal, he’s perfectly willing to float the most unconstitutional trial balloons, such as 'Trump can pardon people for state crimes.'"
"Since Martin neither knows what he’s doing or cares whether it’s legal, he’s perfectly willing to float the most unconstitutional trial balloons, such as 'Trump can pardon people for state crimes.'"
Ed Martin's peculiar view of pardon power
Trump's pardon attorney is very confused about how pardons work.
www.publicnotice.co
November 14, 2025 at 12:49 PM
In the end, a competent & honest (& expanded) Sup Court will have to come to the (obvious) conclusion that the pardon power as exercised by this president is wholly illegitimate, voiding a good number of purported exercises of it. That's going to be a heavy lift, but morons like Martin are helping.
This is the kind of shit that malformed people who haven't had enough human contact in their lives build. Absolutely kill it with fire. (And get the people responsible for this into therapy) Christ.
November 14, 2025 at 12:29 PM
This is the kind of shit that malformed people who haven't had enough human contact in their lives build. Absolutely kill it with fire. (And get the people responsible for this into therapy) Christ.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
ALERT ‼️ Federal law enforcement/ ICE checkpoint on Clara Barton Pkwy eastbound into DC, near MacArthur Blvd exit. Men in masks pulling over white work vans, making detentions.
November 13, 2025 at 3:14 PM
ALERT ‼️ Federal law enforcement/ ICE checkpoint on Clara Barton Pkwy eastbound into DC, near MacArthur Blvd exit. Men in masks pulling over white work vans, making detentions.
Love to pay for a house longer than it was built to last.
November 11, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Love to pay for a house longer than it was built to last.
The damage that this/Lucy Caulkins/et al did to generations of kids is hard to comprehend (but worth reading the 2019 story below). Thankfully, lots of districts across the US have taken a hard turn away from that approach in recent years, but we're still living with the consequences.
November 11, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The damage that this/Lucy Caulkins/et al did to generations of kids is hard to comprehend (but worth reading the 2019 story below). Thankfully, lots of districts across the US have taken a hard turn away from that approach in recent years, but we're still living with the consequences.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
🔥🔥🔥
(It's okay to take joy in this, folks.)
(It's okay to take joy in this, folks.)
I knew it would take less than a day for a tiktok dj to make something.
November 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
🔥🔥🔥
(It's okay to take joy in this, folks.)
(It's okay to take joy in this, folks.)
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
They finally did it
November 4, 2025 at 5:47 PM
They finally did it
A pretty good characterization. While I first started paying close attention in the Contract On America mid-90s, I was a newly minted lawyer when the Supreme Court awarded Bush the presidency & Cheney's lies weren't just his, but enabled by grown people who knew better, & did nothing. Never Forget.
in case anyone on this website is too young to have had fully formed political rage while Cheney was VP, a concise summary of why we are Like This
Good morning! Dick Cheney is dead and I have an obituary that I wrote all the way back in 2017 about this monster!
www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2025/11/cheney
www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2025/11/cheney
November 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM
A pretty good characterization. While I first started paying close attention in the Contract On America mid-90s, I was a newly minted lawyer when the Supreme Court awarded Bush the presidency & Cheney's lies weren't just his, but enabled by grown people who knew better, & did nothing. Never Forget.
When Congress won't do their jobs, sometimes you can do it for them.
PSA from 404 Media: you can opt-out of a data broker selling your flight travel data to the government to be searched without a warrant. Here's how I did it. This is ARC, the data broker owned by major U.S. airlines like United, Delta, American, etc
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
How to Opt-Out of Airlines Selling Your Travel Data to the Government
The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), owned by major U.S. airlines, collects billions of ticketing records and sells them to the government to be searched without a warrant. I managed to opt-out o...
www.404media.co
November 4, 2025 at 2:06 PM
When Congress won't do their jobs, sometimes you can do it for them.
It's hard to convey just how terrible of a human being Dick Cheney was, but @erikloomis.bsky.social takes a pretty good run at it.
November 4, 2025 at 1:10 PM
It's hard to convey just how terrible of a human being Dick Cheney was, but @erikloomis.bsky.social takes a pretty good run at it.