Jeffrey Quackenbush
@jeffreyquackenbush.bsky.social
Essays I've written can be found on Researchgate:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeffrey-Quackenbush
Some samples of my poetry can be found on Substack:
https://jeffreyquackenbush.substack.com
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jeffrey-Quackenbush
Some samples of my poetry can be found on Substack:
https://jeffreyquackenbush.substack.com
Interestingly, Foucault uses the same basic idea as Spengler to posit a theory of historical change cultures in “The Order of Things," although in Foucault’s case, he limits his analysis to European knowledge systems.
It is unfortunate that these ideas have attracted so many political ideologues.
It is unfortunate that these ideas have attracted so many political ideologues.
December 15, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Interestingly, Foucault uses the same basic idea as Spengler to posit a theory of historical change cultures in “The Order of Things," although in Foucault’s case, he limits his analysis to European knowledge systems.
It is unfortunate that these ideas have attracted so many political ideologues.
It is unfortunate that these ideas have attracted so many political ideologues.
The Last Jedi has the best art design of all the Star Wars films and contains some stunning visual set pieces.
It’s also more thematically interesting than any of the other films, other than The Empire Strikes Back and the first film.
The plot structure leaves something to be desired.
It’s also more thematically interesting than any of the other films, other than The Empire Strikes Back and the first film.
The plot structure leaves something to be desired.
December 15, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The Last Jedi has the best art design of all the Star Wars films and contains some stunning visual set pieces.
It’s also more thematically interesting than any of the other films, other than The Empire Strikes Back and the first film.
The plot structure leaves something to be desired.
It’s also more thematically interesting than any of the other films, other than The Empire Strikes Back and the first film.
The plot structure leaves something to be desired.
It would be more productive to try to persuade narrow-topic social media communities on Twitter, particularly sports fandoms, to migrate over to BlueSky for good.
December 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
It would be more productive to try to persuade narrow-topic social media communities on Twitter, particularly sports fandoms, to migrate over to BlueSky for good.
This Is Spinal Tap is arguably the best, most influential mockumentary of all time and that was done just a few years before Stand By Me.
December 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM
This Is Spinal Tap is arguably the best, most influential mockumentary of all time and that was done just a few years before Stand By Me.
I continue to not understand why many in the business community have decided that tax avoidance somehow trumps policy-making that encourages the economic conditions under which large profits are possible.
December 11, 2025 at 5:41 AM
I continue to not understand why many in the business community have decided that tax avoidance somehow trumps policy-making that encourages the economic conditions under which large profits are possible.
I’m just sad that Lizza and Nuzzi are fighting. Us in the double-z club should stick together.
by Chris Cillizza
by Chris Cillizza
December 11, 2025 at 5:21 AM
I’m just sad that Lizza and Nuzzi are fighting. Us in the double-z club should stick together.
by Chris Cillizza
by Chris Cillizza
Even better.
December 10, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Even better.
“Right-wing” is the wrong way to describe someone like Rosenfield. My sense from people like her is that they’re annoyed at having to take sides morally about political topics or political behavior.
December 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
“Right-wing” is the wrong way to describe someone like Rosenfield. My sense from people like her is that they’re annoyed at having to take sides morally about political topics or political behavior.
Donald Trump is the only political candidate who has threatened to personally increase the murder rate in NYC.
December 10, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Donald Trump is the only political candidate who has threatened to personally increase the murder rate in NYC.
This looks like the setup of a good action thriller movie with a priest who kicks ass while protecting the skull being taken to its new home.
December 10, 2025 at 7:20 PM
This looks like the setup of a good action thriller movie with a priest who kicks ass while protecting the skull being taken to its new home.
My point is that there was less-dense, cheaper housing closer to commercial centers a few decades ago (and at all times earlier) than now. This is a structural shift in urban life. One hypothesis about “affordability” is that it has as much to do with geography as with raw prices.
December 10, 2025 at 7:07 PM
My point is that there was less-dense, cheaper housing closer to commercial centers a few decades ago (and at all times earlier) than now. This is a structural shift in urban life. One hypothesis about “affordability” is that it has as much to do with geography as with raw prices.
Remote work is concentrated among professionals, many of whom want to live in big urban areas and can afford it.
December 10, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Remote work is concentrated among professionals, many of whom want to live in big urban areas and can afford it.
This impulse is at odds with long-term populations increases and an urban-focused services economy.
December 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
This impulse is at odds with long-term populations increases and an urban-focused services economy.
Zoning hasn’t changed that much since the 90s, but in many places you could still find affordable housing within the close-in suburbs of big metros 20-30 years ago.
I think we also don’t fully appreciate how much Americans like suburban living where they have more personal space.
I think we also don’t fully appreciate how much Americans like suburban living where they have more personal space.
December 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Zoning hasn’t changed that much since the 90s, but in many places you could still find affordable housing within the close-in suburbs of big metros 20-30 years ago.
I think we also don’t fully appreciate how much Americans like suburban living where they have more personal space.
I think we also don’t fully appreciate how much Americans like suburban living where they have more personal space.
We need to be more specific: build more housing in areas with high GDP and good job opportunities.
December 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
We need to be more specific: build more housing in areas with high GDP and good job opportunities.
This is a new configuration! And with the run-up of prices since the pandemic, the problem seems to have become acute.
December 10, 2025 at 5:51 PM
This is a new configuration! And with the run-up of prices since the pandemic, the problem seems to have become acute.
Metros with populations >3 million have started to sort into formations where the urban core is very expensive outside ~1 hour drive away from downtown.
December 10, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Metros with populations >3 million have started to sort into formations where the urban core is very expensive outside ~1 hour drive away from downtown.
Yes and no. This wasn’t true to the same extent, say, 30 years ago and zoning hasn’t changed much in that time period. Part of the problem is that populations have increased at the same as we have been reversing the suburbanization of the 70s and 80s.
December 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Yes and no. This wasn’t true to the same extent, say, 30 years ago and zoning hasn’t changed much in that time period. Part of the problem is that populations have increased at the same as we have been reversing the suburbanization of the 70s and 80s.
Life doesn’t feel “affordable” if there is a major trade-off among getting the best job you can, living near that job, and living in a different place where housing is cheap, but incomes are lower.
December 10, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Life doesn’t feel “affordable” if there is a major trade-off among getting the best job you can, living near that job, and living in a different place where housing is cheap, but incomes are lower.
Not everyone lives in big cities now (or wants to), but enough people want the option of being able to live near the place where they can maximize their economic interests without excessive cost or having to struggle with commuting and traffic.
December 10, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Not everyone lives in big cities now (or wants to), but enough people want the option of being able to live near the place where they can maximize their economic interests without excessive cost or having to struggle with commuting and traffic.
This is a new phenomenon from the last few decades. It used to be possible to find housing in large metros close to the commercial center of town. Often these neighborhoods had crime and other problems, but they were geographically proximate to work and urban amenities.
December 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
This is a new phenomenon from the last few decades. It used to be possible to find housing in large metros close to the commercial center of town. Often these neighborhoods had crime and other problems, but they were geographically proximate to work and urban amenities.
One idea I’ve had about housing: there *is* relatively cheap housing in the US, but it’s mostly in down-scale rural areas or at the edge of larger metros.
Large metros dominate GDP and good job opportunities in the US. This means that it’s hard to find housing *near* these opportunities.
Large metros dominate GDP and good job opportunities in the US. This means that it’s hard to find housing *near* these opportunities.
December 10, 2025 at 5:41 PM
One idea I’ve had about housing: there *is* relatively cheap housing in the US, but it’s mostly in down-scale rural areas or at the edge of larger metros.
Large metros dominate GDP and good job opportunities in the US. This means that it’s hard to find housing *near* these opportunities.
Large metros dominate GDP and good job opportunities in the US. This means that it’s hard to find housing *near* these opportunities.
Corporate ownership of housing stock and the proliferation of AirBNBs are contributing, but very marginal factors.
December 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Corporate ownership of housing stock and the proliferation of AirBNBs are contributing, but very marginal factors.
You can get a cheap house in the US. But mostly they’re available in a downscale location in the middle of nowhere with low incomes or at the very edge of a larger metro. Our housing problem is the mismatch between the location of affordable housing and good jobs with basic urban amenities.
December 10, 2025 at 2:22 PM
You can get a cheap house in the US. But mostly they’re available in a downscale location in the middle of nowhere with low incomes or at the very edge of a larger metro. Our housing problem is the mismatch between the location of affordable housing and good jobs with basic urban amenities.