Joel Barker
@joelbyronbarker.bsky.social
Chair of the Jefferson County of Oregon Democrats.
Writer at https://joelbyronbarker and https://oldtruckgoodcoffee about urban rural interchange and the braiding of vision to people to nature to tech. Fly fishing. Empathy. Some running. Lots of dogs.
Writer at https://joelbyronbarker and https://oldtruckgoodcoffee about urban rural interchange and the braiding of vision to people to nature to tech. Fly fishing. Empathy. Some running. Lots of dogs.
Pinned
A novel of four curious hearts within the tech around us all
Clear and Sane: The Craft of The Green Paintbrush
www.kickstarter.com
The kickstarter to design, publish, and promote my novel is now live! It feels weird. Already so much support and interest, though! www.kickstarter.com/projects/446...
Not really a shard, but some directions I heard this morning that held true as useful.
December 13, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Not really a shard, but some directions I heard this morning that held true as useful.
Democrats and the non-affiliated (NAV aka independent) voter. A rambling take on the topic. youtu.be/tpjL56SrOOI
Democrats and the Non-affiliated (independent) voter
Admittedly a rambling narrative.
youtu.be
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Democrats and the non-affiliated (NAV aka independent) voter. A rambling take on the topic. youtu.be/tpjL56SrOOI
"I have decided to not let my political beliefs dictate my friendships. It is part of my service to this time."
www.oldtruckgoodcoffee.com/p/new-friend...
www.oldtruckgoodcoffee.com/p/new-friend...
New Friends in Mixed Company
I have decided to not let my political beliefs dictate my friendships. It is part of my service to this time.
www.oldtruckgoodcoffee.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:16 PM
"I have decided to not let my political beliefs dictate my friendships. It is part of my service to this time."
www.oldtruckgoodcoffee.com/p/new-friend...
www.oldtruckgoodcoffee.com/p/new-friend...
Also not exactly a shard, but a thought that came to me while thinking about how to have something to say on social media and why I think of things to say on social media.
December 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Also not exactly a shard, but a thought that came to me while thinking about how to have something to say on social media and why I think of things to say on social media.
Returning home to a dog is the experience of the world telling you that you belong.
December 11, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Returning home to a dog is the experience of the world telling you that you belong.
The book proof — proof of its physical existence — is wending its way to me. I am in a strange haze as I await proof that my imagination has been turned to actuality.
December 9, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The book proof — proof of its physical existence — is wending its way to me. I am in a strange haze as I await proof that my imagination has been turned to actuality.
Not sure how far this piece will go.
December 8, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Not sure how far this piece will go.
"I was just such a rider for many years. I loved my gear and was pleased with the grit. Particularly when that first real winter rain that would come down, signaling the end of the easy season."
#portland #pdxbike
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...
#portland #pdxbike
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...
December 8, 2025 at 4:13 PM
"I was just such a rider for many years. I loved my gear and was pleased with the grit. Particularly when that first real winter rain that would come down, signaling the end of the easy season."
#portland #pdxbike
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...
#portland #pdxbike
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...
Dogs on a frosty dawn. Me, lucky enough to witness.
December 7, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Dogs on a frosty dawn. Me, lucky enough to witness.
The hour as long as the cup takes to drink.
December 5, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The hour as long as the cup takes to drink.
Reposted by Joel Barker
Just watched the insane cabinet meeting and I'm looking close and I see this. The what of war? 'SS'ecretary, for a war criminal that seems wildly apt.
December 3, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Just watched the insane cabinet meeting and I'm looking close and I see this. The what of war? 'SS'ecretary, for a war criminal that seems wildly apt.
"When will it be over?"
"Once they release the files…"
"He'll resign, or die, or something…"
I don't think there are any quick fixes ahead of us.
"Once they release the files…"
"He'll resign, or die, or something…"
I don't think there are any quick fixes ahead of us.
December 5, 2025 at 1:49 AM
"When will it be over?"
"Once they release the files…"
"He'll resign, or die, or something…"
I don't think there are any quick fixes ahead of us.
"Once they release the files…"
"He'll resign, or die, or something…"
I don't think there are any quick fixes ahead of us.
“When we regain a sense of what poems are for, we will renew the art (the technical means) of writing them. And so we will renew their ability to tell the truth.”
— Wendell Berry
— Wendell Berry
December 4, 2025 at 11:30 PM
“When we regain a sense of what poems are for, we will renew the art (the technical means) of writing them. And so we will renew their ability to tell the truth.”
— Wendell Berry
— Wendell Berry
Need hope? Need guidance on what to do? Heather Cox Richardson has them for you. "Be active locally…so your neighbors know what is going one… we are increasingly getting our muscle…"
https://youtu.be/gBzFppcdIMY?si=3eLR8M2vSbmWa2Wl
https://youtu.be/gBzFppcdIMY?si=3eLR8M2vSbmWa2Wl
Is There Any Hope? | Explainer
From Politics Chat, December 2, 2025You can watch the full chat here: https://www.youtube.com/live/9KIVqG5mN8k?si=Ws5IJ21OQc0fXzfKGet full, free access to Le...
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Need hope? Need guidance on what to do? Heather Cox Richardson has them for you. "Be active locally…so your neighbors know what is going one… we are increasingly getting our muscle…"
https://youtu.be/gBzFppcdIMY?si=3eLR8M2vSbmWa2Wl
https://youtu.be/gBzFppcdIMY?si=3eLR8M2vSbmWa2Wl
I have developed practices that keep social media from distracting me during writing sessions. Unfortunately I have no resistance to this face. #letsplay #writingdistraction #dogs
December 3, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I have developed practices that keep social media from distracting me during writing sessions. Unfortunately I have no resistance to this face. #letsplay #writingdistraction #dogs
It is very nearly here for you. Very nearly.
December 2, 2025 at 11:30 PM
It is very nearly here for you. Very nearly.
Local Ants Achieve Multi-generational Dream, Building Scale Model of Snowy Volcano.
December 1, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Local Ants Achieve Multi-generational Dream, Building Scale Model of Snowy Volcano.
The latest Old Truck Good Coffee from Mika Girton:
The Town that Raised Me Ruined Me
"Every time I drive back into that small Montana town, a knot forms in my stomach before I even see the welcome sign."
Sound like holiday travel to anyone out there?
www.oldtruckgoodcoffee.com/p/the-town-t...
The Town that Raised Me Ruined Me
"Every time I drive back into that small Montana town, a knot forms in my stomach before I even see the welcome sign."
Sound like holiday travel to anyone out there?
www.oldtruckgoodcoffee.com/p/the-town-t...
The Town that Raised Me Ruined Me
Returning to the source.
www.oldtruckgoodcoffee.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The latest Old Truck Good Coffee from Mika Girton:
The Town that Raised Me Ruined Me
"Every time I drive back into that small Montana town, a knot forms in my stomach before I even see the welcome sign."
Sound like holiday travel to anyone out there?
www.oldtruckgoodcoffee.com/p/the-town-t...
The Town that Raised Me Ruined Me
"Every time I drive back into that small Montana town, a knot forms in my stomach before I even see the welcome sign."
Sound like holiday travel to anyone out there?
www.oldtruckgoodcoffee.com/p/the-town-t...
Sent my novel off to print! What self publishing can be for the author today.
November 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Sent my novel off to print! What self publishing can be for the author today.
For those interested in ditching Spotify for whatever reason. You can preserve your playlists and sleep easier.
https://littledoor.substack.com/p/ghosting-spotify-a-how-to-guide
https://littledoor.substack.com/p/ghosting-spotify-a-how-to-guide
Ghosting Spotify: A How-To Guide
The Joyful Sabotage Guide to Supporting Real Music and Reigniting Pleasure in the Age of Tech Oligarchy
littledoor.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:57 PM
For those interested in ditching Spotify for whatever reason. You can preserve your playlists and sleep easier.
https://littledoor.substack.com/p/ghosting-spotify-a-how-to-guide
https://littledoor.substack.com/p/ghosting-spotify-a-how-to-guide
The kid tries jumping up and down, tries crouching and jiggling back and forth, tries raising her hands straight up and spinning around. The tall woman follows along, presenting adult versions of the brand new kindergarten dance craze.
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...
Grange Hall Birthday
A puddle of community
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The kid tries jumping up and down, tries crouching and jiggling back and forth, tries raising her hands straight up and spinning around. The tall woman follows along, presenting adult versions of the brand new kindergarten dance craze.
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...
open.substack.com/pub/oldtruck...