R. S. Y. Buchanan
@rsybuchanan.com
Bike stuff, camera stuff, Jewish stuff and food stuff. Not necessarily in that order, or one at a time. Tha beagan Gàidhlig agam.
Don't you hate when you try to do something like make a smoothie, but you're half asleep and you don't have your glasses on, so instead of strawberries you grab the meatballs out of the freezer?
Or does this only happen to me?
Or does this only happen to me?
January 17, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Don't you hate when you try to do something like make a smoothie, but you're half asleep and you don't have your glasses on, so instead of strawberries you grab the meatballs out of the freezer?
Or does this only happen to me?
Or does this only happen to me?
It's 25F and the wind between these buildings is blowing a gale. And because this is a college town, there's a dude in shorts and flipflops telling everyone how he "doesn't feel the cold."
Sure thing, buddy.
Sure thing, buddy.
January 16, 2026 at 7:56 PM
It's 25F and the wind between these buildings is blowing a gale. And because this is a college town, there's a dude in shorts and flipflops telling everyone how he "doesn't feel the cold."
Sure thing, buddy.
Sure thing, buddy.
It never seems to dawn on them that some of us would use this sort of thing as a platform for future political endeavors. "Yes, Bob, I was on Trumps enemies list. That experience is what motivated me to run for dog-catcher, and I hope I can count on your support in November!"
January 16, 2026 at 3:56 PM
It never seems to dawn on them that some of us would use this sort of thing as a platform for future political endeavors. "Yes, Bob, I was on Trumps enemies list. That experience is what motivated me to run for dog-catcher, and I hope I can count on your support in November!"
@aserkin.bsky.social I laughed so hard at the line "The Bella Lugosi of Hemel Hempstead."
‘We wouldn’t still be playing if we’d got stinking rich’: the Damned celebrate 50 years of punk, goth and holy grail hunting
An appetite for self-destruction left Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies hugely influential but financially insecure. They’re back with a big show and their first album together since 1995
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:34 PM
@aserkin.bsky.social I laughed so hard at the line "The Bella Lugosi of Hemel Hempstead."
Apparently I didn't learn my lesson from PMC2025.
As with last year, I promise to try not to be _too_ annoying about fundraising. OTOH, it _is_ a fundraiser, and also fuck cancer.
As with last year, I promise to try not to be _too_ annoying about fundraising. OTOH, it _is_ a fundraiser, and also fuck cancer.
January 15, 2026 at 12:41 AM
Apparently I didn't learn my lesson from PMC2025.
As with last year, I promise to try not to be _too_ annoying about fundraising. OTOH, it _is_ a fundraiser, and also fuck cancer.
As with last year, I promise to try not to be _too_ annoying about fundraising. OTOH, it _is_ a fundraiser, and also fuck cancer.
Reposted by R. S. Y. Buchanan
Happy start of the semester! Coming back from sabbatical and immediately facing a flood of student emails inspired me to repost this hack (I've used the accommodation letter one 10x already today).
#Academicsky
#Academicsky
As semesters start and you find yourself repeatedly answering emails with the same questions from students, this is my annual reminder that you can make all your frequent responses email signatures and just select them from your signature list to respond. You're welcome. #academicsky
January 12, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Happy start of the semester! Coming back from sabbatical and immediately facing a flood of student emails inspired me to repost this hack (I've used the accommodation letter one 10x already today).
#Academicsky
#Academicsky
Reposted by R. S. Y. Buchanan
Branch Manager coming in hot with a timeline cleanse
January 12, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Branch Manager coming in hot with a timeline cleanse
Reposted by R. S. Y. Buchanan
Even the ducklings hate ICE
(Photo taken by a friend who's not on here)
(Photo taken by a friend who's not on here)
January 11, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Even the ducklings hate ICE
(Photo taken by a friend who's not on here)
(Photo taken by a friend who's not on here)
Slightly diminish a band:
The Danged
The Danged
Slightly diminish a band:
Guns ‘n’ Rosehips
Guns ‘n’ Rosehips
Slightly diminish a band:
They Might Be Unusually Large
They Might Be Unusually Large
January 11, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Slightly diminish a band:
The Danged
The Danged
On one hand, we're losing Tampopo; OTOH, we're getting City Slicker back next week, several months after a fire.
January 10, 2026 at 3:03 AM
On one hand, we're losing Tampopo; OTOH, we're getting City Slicker back next week, several months after a fire.
- Rotary telephones
- B&W televisions
- over-the-air television reception, where someone had to take a turn holding the tip of the bunny-ear antenna if you wanted to watch ch. 5, otherwise it was all snowy
- vertical hold dials on televisions, and how they'd slip out occasionally
- B&W televisions
- over-the-air television reception, where someone had to take a turn holding the tip of the bunny-ear antenna if you wanted to watch ch. 5, otherwise it was all snowy
- vertical hold dials on televisions, and how they'd slip out occasionally
Without revealing your actual age,what's something you remember that if you told a younger person they wouldn't understand?
January 9, 2026 at 2:41 PM
- Rotary telephones
- B&W televisions
- over-the-air television reception, where someone had to take a turn holding the tip of the bunny-ear antenna if you wanted to watch ch. 5, otherwise it was all snowy
- vertical hold dials on televisions, and how they'd slip out occasionally
- B&W televisions
- over-the-air television reception, where someone had to take a turn holding the tip of the bunny-ear antenna if you wanted to watch ch. 5, otherwise it was all snowy
- vertical hold dials on televisions, and how they'd slip out occasionally
Good, brief thread.
Just as a reminder - qualified immunity was *supposed* to be that an agent of the state couldn't be prosecuted or sued for following the law if that law was unclear and later turned out to be unconstitutional. Not immune from consequences of clear cases of abuse.
Civilians are the ones who usually wind up dead.
Civilians are not trained for armed conflict.
Civilians have the justifiable claim to fear.
In a conflict between civilians and authorities, it is civilians who should receive benefit of the doubt; who should receive qualified immunity.
Civilians are not trained for armed conflict.
Civilians have the justifiable claim to fear.
In a conflict between civilians and authorities, it is civilians who should receive benefit of the doubt; who should receive qualified immunity.
January 9, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Good, brief thread.
Reposted by R. S. Y. Buchanan
I invite all Americans to join Minnesota in a day of unity tomorrow.
January 9, 2026 at 12:15 AM
I invite all Americans to join Minnesota in a day of unity tomorrow.
Well this sucks: Tampopo in the Porter Exchange is closing. but I can't begrudge the owners for wanting to go do something else after all these years.
January 8, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Well this sucks: Tampopo in the Porter Exchange is closing. but I can't begrudge the owners for wanting to go do something else after all these years.
I wish she'd try napping at 03:00 for variety's sake.
January 8, 2026 at 8:48 PM
I wish she'd try napping at 03:00 for variety's sake.
This harked back all the way to eight seasons earlier, and how put-out Hawkeye had been that Trapper John hadn't said goodbye. He didn't even leave a note.
January 7, 2026 at 3:49 AM
This harked back all the way to eight seasons earlier, and how put-out Hawkeye had been that Trapper John hadn't said goodbye. He didn't even leave a note.
I'm asking the Department of Travel to please kiss my shabbily-dressed ass.
(also: Dept. of Travel? When did *that* happen?)
(also: Dept. of Travel? When did *that* happen?)
The Department of Travel launched an airport civility campaign in November that included a call for travelers to dress up. Are they doing it?
Uncle Sam is asking fliers to dress better at airports. Are we?
The Department of Travel launched an airport civility campaign in November that included a call for travelers to dress up. Are they doing it?
bit.ly
January 3, 2026 at 10:41 PM
I'm asking the Department of Travel to please kiss my shabbily-dressed ass.
(also: Dept. of Travel? When did *that* happen?)
(also: Dept. of Travel? When did *that* happen?)
I think we could all use a cat right about now.
January 3, 2026 at 4:42 PM
I think we could all use a cat right about now.
Reposted by R. S. Y. Buchanan
This is an utterly appalling editorial from Pravda on the Potomac. Not a single word on international law or the US Constitution.
Opinion | Justice in Venezuela
The next challenge is setting the country up for long-term success.
wapo.st
January 3, 2026 at 4:23 PM
This is an utterly appalling editorial from Pravda on the Potomac. Not a single word on international law or the US Constitution.
One of the tells, I think, will be who actually handles the courtroom prosecution. If it's Bondi, I think it'll just come across like a show trial, because it clearly will be. But if DOJ actually puts someone with actual legal chops at the head of the team, well... that will read very differently.
January 3, 2026 at 4:04 PM
One of the tells, I think, will be who actually handles the courtroom prosecution. If it's Bondi, I think it'll just come across like a show trial, because it clearly will be. But if DOJ actually puts someone with actual legal chops at the head of the team, well... that will read very differently.
Reposted by R. S. Y. Buchanan
It was pretty widely conceded that Maduro stole the last election in Venezuela. That argues for U.N. action, not an illegal invasion by Trump. And if Trump had succeeded in stealing the 2020 election, that would have argued for U.N. action as well.
January 3, 2026 at 3:41 PM
It was pretty widely conceded that Maduro stole the last election in Venezuela. That argues for U.N. action, not an illegal invasion by Trump. And if Trump had succeeded in stealing the 2020 election, that would have argued for U.N. action as well.
This is simultaneously incredibly tepid, and probably the best we could hope for from the Times editorial board.
In Opinion
President Trump “is pushing our country toward an international crisis without valid reasons,” the editorial board writes after the U.S. attack on Venezuela was announced on Saturday. “If Mr. Trump wants to argue otherwise, the Constitution spells out what he must do: Go to Congress.”
President Trump “is pushing our country toward an international crisis without valid reasons,” the editorial board writes after the U.S. attack on Venezuela was announced on Saturday. “If Mr. Trump wants to argue otherwise, the Constitution spells out what he must do: Go to Congress.”
Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise
We know that Mr. Trump’s warmongering violates the law.
nyti.ms
January 3, 2026 at 2:11 PM
This is simultaneously incredibly tepid, and probably the best we could hope for from the Times editorial board.
Reposted by R. S. Y. Buchanan
Local TV news: "Tensions with Venezuela reached a breaking point overnight."
That's not how I'd describe what happened.
That's not how I'd describe what happened.
January 3, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Local TV news: "Tensions with Venezuela reached a breaking point overnight."
That's not how I'd describe what happened.
That's not how I'd describe what happened.
Reposted by R. S. Y. Buchanan
Oldie, goodie:
![Breaking News Consumer's Handbook
1. In the immediate aftermath, news outlets will get it wrong.
2. Don't trust anonymous sources.
3. Don't trust stories that cite another news outlet as the source of the information.
4. There's almost never a second shooter.
5. Pay attention to the language the media uses.
- "We are getting reports"... could mean anything.
- "We are seeking confirmation"... means they don't haveit.
- "[News outlet] has learned"... means it has a scoop or is going out on a limb.
6. Look for news outlets close to the incident.
7. Compare multiple sources.
8. Big news brings out the fakers. And photoshoppers.
9. Beware reflexive retweeting. Some of this is on you.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qjoddtmp5jxzkzvt3hoqz3tt/bafkreigi2e6uxrt67htjbrfcmtpbasfuz4jvetyyecnqvxxyt45zile72y@jpeg)
January 3, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Oldie, goodie: