Erik
@sjcaustenite.bsky.social
American in Prague, podcaster, he/him, 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Erik
Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.
January 17, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.
There was no movie theater in my hometown. We drove about half an hour to one of the towns that did. Sure, entertainment options have changed, but this is more Sarandos just completely failing to understand what it's like to live in a small town where you have to drive for anything.
"You’re not going to get in the car and go to the next town to see a movie," says Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos
Ted Sarandos commits to 45-day theatrical windows, believes theaters are for city folk
Ted Sarandos commits to 45-day theatrical windows, believes theaters are for city folk
www.avclub.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:53 PM
There was no movie theater in my hometown. We drove about half an hour to one of the towns that did. Sure, entertainment options have changed, but this is more Sarandos just completely failing to understand what it's like to live in a small town where you have to drive for anything.
Reposted by Erik
Today is @allusionistshow.bsky.social's eleventh birthday! Happy birthday, show! My voice has returned sufficiently so there'll be a new episode this week, and there are 200+ not-new ones at theallusionist.org to catch up on if this is your first time hearing that this podcast exists
The Allusionist
Episodes of The Allusionist
theallusionist.org
January 14, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Today is @allusionistshow.bsky.social's eleventh birthday! Happy birthday, show! My voice has returned sufficiently so there'll be a new episode this week, and there are 200+ not-new ones at theallusionist.org to catch up on if this is your first time hearing that this podcast exists
Reposted by Erik
Having seen several abductions up close, it is really hard to convey how much the thing they’re doing is roaming in military convoys until they see someone who is alone and isn’t white, and then jumping out in large numbers, pulling them into a van, and screeching off, all in 90 seconds or so.
"“They specifically asked me if I knew where the Hmong families lived on my street & in the neighborhood.” Lugert-Thom responded, “I don’t know anything about that” & she said they then asked, “Well, what about the Asian families?”"
"“I was a bit shaken & a bit shocked of what I was asked to do.”"
"“I was a bit shaken & a bit shocked of what I was asked to do.”"
A St. Paul resident says federal officers knocked on her door and asked her to identify Hmong and Asian households in her North End neighborhood last week.
January 14, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Having seen several abductions up close, it is really hard to convey how much the thing they’re doing is roaming in military convoys until they see someone who is alone and isn’t white, and then jumping out in large numbers, pulling them into a van, and screeching off, all in 90 seconds or so.
Reposted by Erik
New podcast just dropped.
The Entirety of Flight Through Entirety combines our four Doctor Who podcasts into one convenient feed: every single Doctor Who story discussed, analysed and lovingly mocked for your enjoyment. Sometimes more than once.
#DoctorWho
theentiretyof.flightthroughentirety.com
The Entirety of Flight Through Entirety combines our four Doctor Who podcasts into one convenient feed: every single Doctor Who story discussed, analysed and lovingly mocked for your enjoyment. Sometimes more than once.
#DoctorWho
theentiretyof.flightthroughentirety.com
The Entirety of Flight Through Entirety
All of the Flight Through Entirety Doctor Who podcasts, together at last
theentiretyof.flightthroughentirety.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:57 AM
New podcast just dropped.
The Entirety of Flight Through Entirety combines our four Doctor Who podcasts into one convenient feed: every single Doctor Who story discussed, analysed and lovingly mocked for your enjoyment. Sometimes more than once.
#DoctorWho
theentiretyof.flightthroughentirety.com
The Entirety of Flight Through Entirety combines our four Doctor Who podcasts into one convenient feed: every single Doctor Who story discussed, analysed and lovingly mocked for your enjoyment. Sometimes more than once.
#DoctorWho
theentiretyof.flightthroughentirety.com
Reposted by Erik
Erich von Däniken, popularizer of the idea that non-white ancient people were incapable of building monuments, died yesterday, prompting many people to say "that guy was still alive?!?". In honor of his passing, I think @ifbookspod.bsky.social should do a special episode on Chariots of the Gods.
'Chariots of the Gods' author Erich von Däniken dies at 90
Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author whose books on the extraterrestrial origins of ancient civilizations brought him both fame and scorn, has died at age 90
abcnews.go.com
January 11, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Erich von Däniken, popularizer of the idea that non-white ancient people were incapable of building monuments, died yesterday, prompting many people to say "that guy was still alive?!?". In honor of his passing, I think @ifbookspod.bsky.social should do a special episode on Chariots of the Gods.
Reposted by Erik
Wow, I was waiting for something like this to happen. There’s still a lot to happen here, as the story makes clear, but the Washington National Opera board voted today.
Breaking News: The Washington National Opera is leaving the Kennedy Center after President Trump’s intervention upset artists and donors. The opera has performed there since 1971.
Washington National Opera Is Leaving the Kennedy Center
The opera, which has performed at the arts center since 1971, was concerned by declines in attendance and donations during President Trump’s second term.
nyti.ms
January 9, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Wow, I was waiting for something like this to happen. There’s still a lot to happen here, as the story makes clear, but the Washington National Opera board voted today.
Unisex toilets are SO COMMON in SO MANY PLACES. All of the supposed danger of different people sharing bathroom space is absolute bigoted nonsense.
I've had 5 days in Stockholm. All the toilets are generally unisex and funnily enough this isn't a problem isn't commented on and is totally safe.
So, as usual, the whole media storm is a load of made up bollocks swallowed by bigots.
So, as usual, the whole media storm is a load of made up bollocks swallowed by bigots.
January 9, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Unisex toilets are SO COMMON in SO MANY PLACES. All of the supposed danger of different people sharing bathroom space is absolute bigoted nonsense.
Reposted by Erik
Reposted by Erik
The “prosecute the former regime at every level” candidate has my vote in 2028.
January 7, 2026 at 8:26 PM
The “prosecute the former regime at every level” candidate has my vote in 2028.
This is one of the most baffling things about the Founding generation. They completely missed partisanship, even though it already existed -- both historically and in their own time. I can only conclude that they *genuinely* believed the idea that America -- and Americans -- were truly exceptional.
They assumed that Congress, the Executive and the Judiciary would see themselves as factions, thus "ambition will counteract ambition." It didn't occur to them that parties would vie to control all three in order to cooperate. I don't have any idea why.
January 7, 2026 at 6:47 PM
This is one of the most baffling things about the Founding generation. They completely missed partisanship, even though it already existed -- both historically and in their own time. I can only conclude that they *genuinely* believed the idea that America -- and Americans -- were truly exceptional.
Reposted by Erik
The destruction doesn't make for a photo-op like tearing down the East Wing of the White House or bulldozing the Rose Garden, but it's every bit as bad. Generations of American children learned to spell and count, learned the Preamble to the Constitution, from watching shows produced by the CPB.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been dissolved, ending its 58 years as the primary funder for PBS, NPR and local TV and radio stations
Corporation For Public Broadcasting Is Dissolved After 58 Years Of Service
www.huffpost.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:04 PM
The destruction doesn't make for a photo-op like tearing down the East Wing of the White House or bulldozing the Rose Garden, but it's every bit as bad. Generations of American children learned to spell and count, learned the Preamble to the Constitution, from watching shows produced by the CPB.
Reposted by Erik
As a fan of TM, having the following info over other fans makes me feel... pretty great.
I know who wins.
I know the roles the cast members occupy. The wacky one? The one who doesn't care? The one who cares too much? The smart one who is bad at tasks? I know it all.
I know what the teams are.
I know who wins.
I know the roles the cast members occupy. The wacky one? The one who doesn't care? The one who cares too much? The smart one who is bad at tasks? I know it all.
I know what the teams are.
I can finally announce:
I am in the next season (series) of Taskmaster! My favorite tv show! I’ve seen every season & some multiple times! Thrilled to be with this group of hilarious sweeties.
Amy Gledhill
Joanna Page
Armando Iannucci
Joel Dommett
And me!
I am in the next season (series) of Taskmaster! My favorite tv show! I’ve seen every season & some multiple times! Thrilled to be with this group of hilarious sweeties.
Amy Gledhill
Joanna Page
Armando Iannucci
Joel Dommett
And me!
January 4, 2026 at 8:18 PM
As a fan of TM, having the following info over other fans makes me feel... pretty great.
I know who wins.
I know the roles the cast members occupy. The wacky one? The one who doesn't care? The one who cares too much? The smart one who is bad at tasks? I know it all.
I know what the teams are.
I know who wins.
I know the roles the cast members occupy. The wacky one? The one who doesn't care? The one who cares too much? The smart one who is bad at tasks? I know it all.
I know what the teams are.
I was wondering why Venezuela wasn't Panama 2.0, and this article asks that question, but then almost entirely talks about *how Panama turned out*, not whether or not the US's actions were legally distinct, etc. In this rendering, if Venezuela turns out well, Trump will have been right, I guess?
Operation Absolute Resolve, that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, echoes the 1990 U.S. invasion of Panama that brought down Manuel Noriega. But big differences abound. n.pr/49CIBHI
A tale of two U.S. interventions and why Venezuela is not Panama 2.0
Operation Absolute Resolve, that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, echoes the 1990 U.S. invasion of Panama that brought down Manuel Noriega. But big differences abound.
n.pr
January 4, 2026 at 12:12 PM
I was wondering why Venezuela wasn't Panama 2.0, and this article asks that question, but then almost entirely talks about *how Panama turned out*, not whether or not the US's actions were legally distinct, etc. In this rendering, if Venezuela turns out well, Trump will have been right, I guess?
A sad fact about America is that the use of military force to solve problems may not always be popular in theory, but it is almost always popular in practice.
Polling doesn't justify things, but politicians think it does, and so I suspect a lot of politicians are waiting to see what the polls say.
Polling doesn't justify things, but politicians think it does, and so I suspect a lot of politicians are waiting to see what the polls say.
January 4, 2026 at 8:12 AM
A sad fact about America is that the use of military force to solve problems may not always be popular in theory, but it is almost always popular in practice.
Polling doesn't justify things, but politicians think it does, and so I suspect a lot of politicians are waiting to see what the polls say.
Polling doesn't justify things, but politicians think it does, and so I suspect a lot of politicians are waiting to see what the polls say.
Well...my childhood memory is maybe more reliable than I thought. Waiting to see this fully reported out.
None of this excuses Trump, but:
1) There is an OLC opinion that authorizes this, which future AG then OLC head Bill Barr signed in 1989 to authorize the very similar Panama invasion.
2) There is an indictment. It was unsealed under Barr in 2020.
3) Indictment is real. Former top aide pled in June
1) There is an OLC opinion that authorizes this, which future AG then OLC head Bill Barr signed in 1989 to authorize the very similar Panama invasion.
2) There is an indictment. It was unsealed under Barr in 2020.
3) Indictment is real. Former top aide pled in June
January 3, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Well...my childhood memory is maybe more reliable than I thought. Waiting to see this fully reported out.
I am not an expert, and I was a child at the time so this may be obvious.
But how, legally, is the "arrest" of Maduro different from the 1989 invasion of Panama, leading to the subsequent arrest and US trial of Noriega? It feels extremely similar, but again, I was a kid in '89, so I may be wrong.
But how, legally, is the "arrest" of Maduro different from the 1989 invasion of Panama, leading to the subsequent arrest and US trial of Noriega? It feels extremely similar, but again, I was a kid in '89, so I may be wrong.
January 3, 2026 at 11:43 AM
I am not an expert, and I was a child at the time so this may be obvious.
But how, legally, is the "arrest" of Maduro different from the 1989 invasion of Panama, leading to the subsequent arrest and US trial of Noriega? It feels extremely similar, but again, I was a kid in '89, so I may be wrong.
But how, legally, is the "arrest" of Maduro different from the 1989 invasion of Panama, leading to the subsequent arrest and US trial of Noriega? It feels extremely similar, but again, I was a kid in '89, so I may be wrong.
Reposted by Erik
Hey guess what’s live right now…
Very excited for the new podcast, “Critical Darlings” from @rilaws.bsky.social and @alisonwillmore.bsky.social - can’t wait to listen throughout awards season.
Introducing Critical Darlings — Blank Check with Griffin & David
Welcome to Critical Darlings, a new podcast miniseries from Blank Check: A conversation about the awards season conversation, one contender at a time. On Critical Darlings, critics and Blank Check alu...
overcast.fm
January 1, 2026 at 7:46 AM
Hey guess what’s live right now…
I can think of worse ways of marking the end of the year than sharing one of the great anthems of survival.
Inspired by @lynnemthomas.com, here's
Elaine Stritch.
youtu.be/3Xz1TUgdG6A?...
Inspired by @lynnemthomas.com, here's
Elaine Stritch.
youtu.be/3Xz1TUgdG6A?...
I'm Still Here - Elaine Stritch
YouTube video by Some Days You're Barbra
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I can think of worse ways of marking the end of the year than sharing one of the great anthems of survival.
Inspired by @lynnemthomas.com, here's
Elaine Stritch.
youtu.be/3Xz1TUgdG6A?...
Inspired by @lynnemthomas.com, here's
Elaine Stritch.
youtu.be/3Xz1TUgdG6A?...
Reposted by Erik
Summing up 2025 with Carol Burnett from Follies feels appropriate. youtu.be/bxIHU9Hdx_c?...
I'm Still Here - Carol Burnett - Follies - Sondheim
YouTube video by BestArtsSondheim
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Summing up 2025 with Carol Burnett from Follies feels appropriate. youtu.be/bxIHU9Hdx_c?...
The idea that you would make a life partnership with someone who has different values than you only makes sense if, fundamentally, your values don't matter -- either to you or your partner.
This is especially in a society like the US where there is almost no political overlap anymore.
This is especially in a society like the US where there is almost no political overlap anymore.
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
Majority of Gen Z swipe left on dating people with opposite political views
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
n.pr
December 31, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The idea that you would make a life partnership with someone who has different values than you only makes sense if, fundamentally, your values don't matter -- either to you or your partner.
This is especially in a society like the US where there is almost no political overlap anymore.
This is especially in a society like the US where there is almost no political overlap anymore.
Reposted by Erik
Those spam sites that make up celebrity networks are very convincing to stupid people. I’ve seen members of Congress cite the fake Elizabeth Warren net worth, when she fills out the same disclosure forms they do. They just require reading a PDF instead of asking Grok
all it really takes to understand the extent of how little rightwingers know about reality is to just talk to a rightwinger immeshed in the far right media ecosystem. they start saying things like “AOC is worth 30 million dollars” and you realize this is the average american now
December 31, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Those spam sites that make up celebrity networks are very convincing to stupid people. I’ve seen members of Congress cite the fake Elizabeth Warren net worth, when she fills out the same disclosure forms they do. They just require reading a PDF instead of asking Grok
I have never heard of several of these movies, but I trust Matt didn't make them up.
December 29, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I have never heard of several of these movies, but I trust Matt didn't make them up.
It's Chinese black cardamom!
Anyone here know Chinese spices well? These seed pods (?) were in my beef stew. The chef is from the Chongqing area and the dish definitely tasted Szechuan, but I have never seen these, and the wait staff didn't know its name.
December 29, 2025 at 7:53 PM
It's Chinese black cardamom!
Anyone here know Chinese spices well? These seed pods (?) were in my beef stew. The chef is from the Chongqing area and the dish definitely tasted Szechuan, but I have never seen these, and the wait staff didn't know its name.
December 29, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Anyone here know Chinese spices well? These seed pods (?) were in my beef stew. The chef is from the Chongqing area and the dish definitely tasted Szechuan, but I have never seen these, and the wait staff didn't know its name.