Rev. AJ van Tine
@revajvt.bsky.social
Unitarian Universalist minister living and serving in Rochester, NY. He/him.
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
ok, so that's fascinating:
"hysterical" came into the english language in the 17th century, but wasn't commonly used until the 19th, peaking at the end of the century, then falling back
until then 21st, when it picks up again, culminating in 2016
"hysterical" came into the english language in the 17th century, but wasn't commonly used until the 19th, peaking at the end of the century, then falling back
until then 21st, when it picks up again, culminating in 2016
February 1, 2026 at 7:53 PM
ok, so that's fascinating:
"hysterical" came into the english language in the 17th century, but wasn't commonly used until the 19th, peaking at the end of the century, then falling back
until then 21st, when it picks up again, culminating in 2016
"hysterical" came into the english language in the 17th century, but wasn't commonly used until the 19th, peaking at the end of the century, then falling back
until then 21st, when it picks up again, culminating in 2016
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
30 point swing you say?
February 1, 2026 at 4:43 AM
30 point swing you say?
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
Breaking: Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins solidly red Texas Senate seat in stunning special election upset.
Democrat wins special election for red Texas Senate seat
With ballots tallied from all but a handful of voting centers, Rehmet had 57% of the vote, besting the 43% for his GOP opponent, Leigh Wambsganss, who had a massive spending advantage.
www.texastribune.org
February 1, 2026 at 5:21 AM
Breaking: Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins solidly red Texas Senate seat in stunning special election upset.
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
So an odd thing here is that if you say "an unidentified man dressed in a Batman costume" your point is to communicate "it is not really Batman" but the problem is that the real Batman, within the fiction of the comic book "Batman", is also, literally, an unidentified man dressed in a Batman costume
An unidentified man dressed in a Batman costume angrily confronted Santa Clara city officials during a joint meeting of the City Council, city authorities, and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority on Monday, using his public comment to condemn the city’s stance on cooperation with ICE.
January 31, 2026 at 9:52 PM
So an odd thing here is that if you say "an unidentified man dressed in a Batman costume" your point is to communicate "it is not really Batman" but the problem is that the real Batman, within the fiction of the comic book "Batman", is also, literally, an unidentified man dressed in a Batman costume
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
Note: Biery graduated from Texas Lutheran College and Southern Methodist University.
If he’s a mainliner (in keeping w/those schools), he’d likely use the NRSV translation, which reads “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs”
If he’s a mainliner (in keeping w/those schools), he’d likely use the NRSV translation, which reads “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs”
Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
January 31, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Note: Biery graduated from Texas Lutheran College and Southern Methodist University.
If he’s a mainliner (in keeping w/those schools), he’d likely use the NRSV translation, which reads “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs”
If he’s a mainliner (in keeping w/those schools), he’d likely use the NRSV translation, which reads “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs”
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
the democratic backsliding we're in now **would not have happened** but for the bizarre, archaic way the senate is elected
if you reported its pv, people would get that, as is, (most) don't
if you reported its pv, people would get that, as is, (most) don't
January 31, 2026 at 5:23 PM
the democratic backsliding we're in now **would not have happened** but for the bizarre, archaic way the senate is elected
if you reported its pv, people would get that, as is, (most) don't
if you reported its pv, people would get that, as is, (most) don't
Tell us five classes you took in college:
1. Theologies of Religious Pluralism
2. Religion and Violence
3. Ancient Epics
4. Thomas Aquinas
5. Japanese Philosophy
1. Theologies of Religious Pluralism
2. Religion and Violence
3. Ancient Epics
4. Thomas Aquinas
5. Japanese Philosophy
Tell us five classes you took in college:
1. Intro to cultural anthropology
2. Differential equations
3. Parapsychology
4. Intro to Poetry
5. Middle High German
1. Intro to cultural anthropology
2. Differential equations
3. Parapsychology
4. Intro to Poetry
5. Middle High German
Tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Endocrinology of Dairy Cattle
2. Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics
3. Classical Epics in Translation
4. Introduction to Oceanography
5. Reproductive Physiology of Zoo, Lab, and Companion Animals
1. Endocrinology of Dairy Cattle
2. Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics
3. Classical Epics in Translation
4. Introduction to Oceanography
5. Reproductive Physiology of Zoo, Lab, and Companion Animals
January 31, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Tell us five classes you took in college:
1. Theologies of Religious Pluralism
2. Religion and Violence
3. Ancient Epics
4. Thomas Aquinas
5. Japanese Philosophy
1. Theologies of Religious Pluralism
2. Religion and Violence
3. Ancient Epics
4. Thomas Aquinas
5. Japanese Philosophy
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
Very interesting research paper that shows that using AI with programming can significantly reduce mastery over topics. Perhaps unsurprising, but the lack of significant speed gains in this exercise are remarkable
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
January 31, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Very interesting research paper that shows that using AI with programming can significantly reduce mastery over topics. Perhaps unsurprising, but the lack of significant speed gains in this exercise are remarkable
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
4 Black journalists have been kidnapped by the federal government
January 30, 2026 at 6:45 PM
4 Black journalists have been kidnapped by the federal government
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
The arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are a test for every MSM member with a platform. If you are not voicing your outrage at this blatant violation of the First Amendment, you are utterly discredited as a journalist.
January 30, 2026 at 4:44 PM
The arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are a test for every MSM member with a platform. If you are not voicing your outrage at this blatant violation of the First Amendment, you are utterly discredited as a journalist.
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
“Defund ICE or we’ll close the airports and the coast guard” is a better rallying cry than “Defund ICE or we’ll starve disabled people and kick patients off life saving clinical trials.” That’s why separating DHS out is important.
January 30, 2026 at 4:34 PM
“Defund ICE or we’ll close the airports and the coast guard” is a better rallying cry than “Defund ICE or we’ll starve disabled people and kick patients off life saving clinical trials.” That’s why separating DHS out is important.
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
Minnesota based Independent Journalist GEORGIA FORT has been arrested for filming a protest of the church pastor that works as an ICE manager. SPREAD THE WORD! Georgia has been doing outstanding reporting from ground zero!
January 30, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Minnesota based Independent Journalist GEORGIA FORT has been arrested for filming a protest of the church pastor that works as an ICE manager. SPREAD THE WORD! Georgia has been doing outstanding reporting from ground zero!
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
If the right-wing is going to go with, "We can't compare ICE to the Gestapo, because ICE only hunts non-citizens," then we need to call this what it is: a form of Holocaust revisionism.
January 28, 2026 at 4:21 AM
If the right-wing is going to go with, "We can't compare ICE to the Gestapo, because ICE only hunts non-citizens," then we need to call this what it is: a form of Holocaust revisionism.
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
It is literally false that the Jews being hunted by Nazis were citizens, because the first step toward genocide was stripping them of citizenship and making them stateless. As Arendt reminds us, citizenship is a legal category created to facilitate a machinery of exclusion of the out-group.
January 28, 2026 at 4:19 AM
It is literally false that the Jews being hunted by Nazis were citizens, because the first step toward genocide was stripping them of citizenship and making them stateless. As Arendt reminds us, citizenship is a legal category created to facilitate a machinery of exclusion of the out-group.
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
Our communities have been showing up and meeting this moment. We need to show our leaders we expect just as much from them.
Join the nationwide shutdown tomorrow and say enough is enough: ICE OUT
Join the nationwide shutdown tomorrow and say enough is enough: ICE OUT
January 29, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Our communities have been showing up and meeting this moment. We need to show our leaders we expect just as much from them.
Join the nationwide shutdown tomorrow and say enough is enough: ICE OUT
Join the nationwide shutdown tomorrow and say enough is enough: ICE OUT
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
Today, UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt was arrested in Washington, D.C., alongside other people of faith protesting the DHS budget that funds ICE and CBP. “There is no moral justification,” she said. This is a developing story: https://bit.ly/3NKDUDj #UU #FaithInAction #Immigration #ICEOut
January 29, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Today, UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt was arrested in Washington, D.C., alongside other people of faith protesting the DHS budget that funds ICE and CBP. “There is no moral justification,” she said. This is a developing story: https://bit.ly/3NKDUDj #UU #FaithInAction #Immigration #ICEOut
I’d suggest playing “spot the UU” but is that so easy it’s not even a game?
It appears several clergy were just arrested as they staged an anti-ICE protest in the Russell Rotunda in the U.S. Senate office building.
A number of faith leaders, who were in town urging Senators to vote against additional ICE funding, were led away by police: www.facebook.com/FIAnational/...
A number of faith leaders, who were in town urging Senators to vote against additional ICE funding, were led away by police: www.facebook.com/FIAnational/...
January 29, 2026 at 8:58 PM
I’d suggest playing “spot the UU” but is that so easy it’s not even a game?
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
Update: Morelle has signed on to co-sponsor impeachment of Noem.
And still nothing from @morelle.house.gov. ROC people, call him at 585-232-4850 or at 202-225-3615. Tell him to co-sponsor the articles of impeachment against Noem.
Kristi Noem impeachment articles up to 145 Democratic co-sponsors now. New ones:
Pat Ryan (N.Y.)
Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.)
Hank Johnson (Ga.)
John Mannion (N.Y.)
Don Beyer (Va.)
More here: www.axios.com/2026/01/26/k...
Pat Ryan (N.Y.)
Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.)
Hank Johnson (Ga.)
John Mannion (N.Y.)
Don Beyer (Va.)
More here: www.axios.com/2026/01/26/k...
January 29, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Update: Morelle has signed on to co-sponsor impeachment of Noem.
Apparently, RATM is now part of the folk protest canon, and that feels exactly right on generational schedule.
Dave Matthews and Tim Ryenolds playing Neil Young’s Ohio last night and ends with some Rage Against the Machine.
January 29, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Apparently, RATM is now part of the folk protest canon, and that feels exactly right on generational schedule.
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
Amid so much loss, it matters to name the victories too. The same day Renée Nicole Good was killed, Avelo Airlines announced it would stop flying deportation flights—ending a $150M ICE contract. UUs across the country helped make this happen. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ZHr2QQ
#ICEOut #UU #Avelo
#ICEOut #UU #Avelo
Here's How We Pressured an Airline to End Its Contract With ICE
ICE is not invulnerable. The Avelo Airlines win proves what happens when we refuse inevitability and fight together.
truthout.org
January 28, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Amid so much loss, it matters to name the victories too. The same day Renée Nicole Good was killed, Avelo Airlines announced it would stop flying deportation flights—ending a $150M ICE contract. UUs across the country helped make this happen. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ZHr2QQ
#ICEOut #UU #Avelo
#ICEOut #UU #Avelo
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
From what I'm hearing from folks on the ground, this is exactly correct. This regime does nothing but lie, and they respond to nothing but strength. Dems and other leaders should recognize they're weak now - ignore the propaganda and go on offense.
I'm calling bullshit on the media narrative that Trump is "pivoting" and "deescalating" on his ICE raids. The threshold is this: As long as the military occupations and the treatment of US cities as enemy territory continue, there's no pivot. ICE out. 1/
(New piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
(New piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
Donald Trump Is Frightened
Trump wants to appear eager to minimize out-of-control clashes between government militias and protesters. But he doesn’t want to stop the things causing those clashes in the first place.
newrepublic.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:27 PM
From what I'm hearing from folks on the ground, this is exactly correct. This regime does nothing but lie, and they respond to nothing but strength. Dems and other leaders should recognize they're weak now - ignore the propaganda and go on offense.
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
Fascists love and worship disease. It is the archangel of their god.
January 28, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Fascists love and worship disease. It is the archangel of their god.
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
We had eradicated this disease.
And now because of targeted disinformation, children, immunocompromised people, elderly folks, and so many others become victims in this proxy war and we have a new avoidable pandemic.
And now because of targeted disinformation, children, immunocompromised people, elderly folks, and so many others become victims in this proxy war and we have a new avoidable pandemic.
Holy moly this chart: Cumulative US measles cases
January 28, 2026 at 2:03 PM
We had eradicated this disease.
And now because of targeted disinformation, children, immunocompromised people, elderly folks, and so many others become victims in this proxy war and we have a new avoidable pandemic.
And now because of targeted disinformation, children, immunocompromised people, elderly folks, and so many others become victims in this proxy war and we have a new avoidable pandemic.
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
Very little if anything seems to have changed on the ground. ICE is still out there terrorizing neighborhoods and trying to disappear neighbors. None of us on the ground are buying this bullshit. We will keep organizing and fighting.
The intense fallout from the killing of Alex Pretti has forced President Trump to publicly change course in Minneapolis.
Listen to our White House reporters discuss the changes on today's episode of "The Daily."
Listen to our White House reporters discuss the changes on today's episode of "The Daily."
Trump Changes Course in Minneapolis
The White House has been met with broad outcry over the killing of Alex Pretti, as well as pushback from Congress.
nyti.ms
January 28, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Very little if anything seems to have changed on the ground. ICE is still out there terrorizing neighborhoods and trying to disappear neighbors. None of us on the ground are buying this bullshit. We will keep organizing and fighting.
Reposted by Rev. AJ van Tine
Trump did this.
Measles is deadly.
Measles is deadly.
January 28, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Trump did this.
Measles is deadly.
Measles is deadly.