Allen
@thisisallen.bsky.social
I’m the guy on the left. I taught English as a foreign language. I’m from Virginia.I lived in China. I lived in South Korea. YIMBY. Urbanist. Learning stuff is fun.
Reposted by Allen
i've been saying that mid-Millennials are the last generation that will actually be able to read and write fully, and I was thinking that was mostly a problem with phones & chatgpt, but now i think it's also, uh, something that's being engineered deliberately [and for extremely stupid reasons]
so, uh, I just saw this [h/t @mikeblack114.bsky.social) and... jesus christ we're literally teaching an illiterate generation. instead of teaching meaning we're literally telling kids to just invent what the text says
December 22, 2025 at 5:45 PM
i've been saying that mid-Millennials are the last generation that will actually be able to read and write fully, and I was thinking that was mostly a problem with phones & chatgpt, but now i think it's also, uh, something that's being engineered deliberately [and for extremely stupid reasons]
Reposted by Allen
hey, just want to circle back on this, you utter joke of a pundit
Ratio me. Please. It's a badge of honor. If you don't like a link, go follow some chicken-heart who needs the approval of the thought-police. Caitlin Flanagan of @theatlantic.com is a tremendous writer and this piece is an excellent read. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Don’t Bet Against Bari Weiss
The new editor in chief of CBS News triumphs over her critics.
www.theatlantic.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:17 AM
hey, just want to circle back on this, you utter joke of a pundit
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Incompetent courtiers being put in charge of key technical positions and then totally botching them was a recurring feature and major weakness of historical absolute monarchies and authoritarian regimes. Anyway, Bari Weiss,
December 22, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Incompetent courtiers being put in charge of key technical positions and then totally botching them was a recurring feature and major weakness of historical absolute monarchies and authoritarian regimes. Anyway, Bari Weiss,
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tonight the government killed a story on cbs about the slave labor camp in a foreign country theyre illegally sending people to
December 22, 2025 at 3:33 AM
tonight the government killed a story on cbs about the slave labor camp in a foreign country theyre illegally sending people to
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Awfully bold of them to propose what as been America’s main strategic advantage for the past 200 years as a new idea when the White House that they support is doing everything they can to undermine that advantage
So I know it’s sometimes difficult to understand why knowledgeable people in the defense world think Anduril is full of shit. But I now have a great way to explain how you should view their pitches. This was a recent… idea(*) of Palmer Luckey’s. Basically leverage American soft power and immigration
December 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Awfully bold of them to propose what as been America’s main strategic advantage for the past 200 years as a new idea when the White House that they support is doing everything they can to undermine that advantage
Reposted by Allen
And there it is...
December 22, 2025 at 2:55 AM
And there it is...
Reposted by Allen
The person charged with enforcing the laws is an open lawbreaker, assisted by a team of open lawbreakers, backed by a Congressional majority indifferent to lawbreaking, supported by a Supreme Court that privileges them to break the law.
It has no legitimacy whatsoever.
It has no legitimacy whatsoever.
The person charged with enforcing the laws is himself a law breaker. In such a state, do laws even have any legitimacy?
December 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
The person charged with enforcing the laws is an open lawbreaker, assisted by a team of open lawbreakers, backed by a Congressional majority indifferent to lawbreaking, supported by a Supreme Court that privileges them to break the law.
It has no legitimacy whatsoever.
It has no legitimacy whatsoever.
Reposted by Allen
I think this is one those things historians understand intuitively and a lot of non-historians struggle with. Research isn’t just about answering a question, it’s about framing a question. This is what we argue about! Wrestle with. Cry over. Drink away. Not how to answer, but what question to ask.
No, absolutely not.
Most archival materials have not been digitized, many would be illegible to AI (handwriting etc) even if they were. But the question came out of the research. There’s no way AI can do that.
Most archival materials have not been digitized, many would be illegible to AI (handwriting etc) even if they were. But the question came out of the research. There’s no way AI can do that.
December 21, 2025 at 11:57 PM
I think this is one those things historians understand intuitively and a lot of non-historians struggle with. Research isn’t just about answering a question, it’s about framing a question. This is what we argue about! Wrestle with. Cry over. Drink away. Not how to answer, but what question to ask.
Reposted by Allen
My Spanish-born grandfather and black Venezuelan grandmother had 9 children. He neglected his brown children and said he wouldn’t pay to educate those “negros”, but supported the white-passing aunties. It turns out wanting sex with ethnic minoritised people doesn’t mean you love or respect them.
As a mixed race person with some very problematic family members I really feel for Vance’s kids. Having white supremacist family members who happily sell you out sucks.
December 21, 2025 at 11:53 PM
My Spanish-born grandfather and black Venezuelan grandmother had 9 children. He neglected his brown children and said he wouldn’t pay to educate those “negros”, but supported the white-passing aunties. It turns out wanting sex with ethnic minoritised people doesn’t mean you love or respect them.
Reposted by Allen
A since-deleted tweet by former KKK grand wizard David Duke is nearly identical to the statement today made by Vice President JD Vance
December 21, 2025 at 11:56 PM
A since-deleted tweet by former KKK grand wizard David Duke is nearly identical to the statement today made by Vice President JD Vance
Reposted by Allen
Why don't members of Congress bring this up? How is that the government's business is being done by a family member of the President without any formal government appointment?
Why is Jared even there? He doesn’t work for the government!
How would this be worded any differently if it were issued by the Kremlin?
December 22, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Why don't members of Congress bring this up? How is that the government's business is being done by a family member of the President without any formal government appointment?
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when they say "take the country back," they're not talking about winning elections
Republicans control literally every lever of federal power right now.
JD Vance: "If you miss Charlie Kirk…do you promise to take the country back from the people who took his life?"
December 22, 2025 at 12:12 AM
when they say "take the country back," they're not talking about winning elections
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This is how the KKK talks.
JD Vance: "In the United States of America you don't have to apologize for being white anymore"
December 21, 2025 at 8:32 PM
This is how the KKK talks.
Reposted by Allen
Reposted by Allen
Hey, @kaine.senate.gov, the DOJ is breaking the letter of the law and flaunting its impunity to violate the spirit of the law as well. The law requires enforcement mechanisms or it’s worthless.
WELKER: Massie and Khanna say they are looking at options including impeachment and contempt for DOJ officials. Would you support those steps?
KAINE: I think that's premature
KAINE: I think that's premature
December 21, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Hey, @kaine.senate.gov, the DOJ is breaking the letter of the law and flaunting its impunity to violate the spirit of the law as well. The law requires enforcement mechanisms or it’s worthless.
Reposted by Allen
Something I didn't foresee in 2025, or ever.
Seeing Rep. Thomas Massie (!!!) sound more reality-based, and unhindered by "both-sides-ism," than the current anchor of a CBS news show.
This is genuinely pathetic by Brennan.
Seeing Rep. Thomas Massie (!!!) sound more reality-based, and unhindered by "both-sides-ism," than the current anchor of a CBS news show.
This is genuinely pathetic by Brennan.
Squint real hard, and you might just see the “WTAF?!” word balloon that pops above Rep. Massie’s head right after Margaret Brennan finishes her question.
BRENNAN: This isn't everything you asked for just yet, but would you acknowledge that they are complying with the spirit if not the intent of your law?
MASSIE: No. They're flouting the spirit and the letter of the law. It's very troubling the posture that they've taken.
MASSIE: No. They're flouting the spirit and the letter of the law. It's very troubling the posture that they've taken.
December 21, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Something I didn't foresee in 2025, or ever.
Seeing Rep. Thomas Massie (!!!) sound more reality-based, and unhindered by "both-sides-ism," than the current anchor of a CBS news show.
This is genuinely pathetic by Brennan.
Seeing Rep. Thomas Massie (!!!) sound more reality-based, and unhindered by "both-sides-ism," than the current anchor of a CBS news show.
This is genuinely pathetic by Brennan.
@kaine.senate.gov has got to go. A Republican is more willing to be the opposition than he is. If Kaine's conciliatory approach were so effective, we would not be in the position we are as a country. I want a progressive capable of retiring this wonky, out-of-touch geezer.
WELKER: Massie and Khanna say they are looking at options including impeachment and contempt for DOJ officials. Would you support those steps?
KAINE: I think that's premature
KAINE: I think that's premature
December 21, 2025 at 5:45 PM
@kaine.senate.gov has got to go. A Republican is more willing to be the opposition than he is. If Kaine's conciliatory approach were so effective, we would not be in the position we are as a country. I want a progressive capable of retiring this wonky, out-of-touch geezer.
Reposted by Allen
Yes.
He hates doctors who work in hospitals.
Just pure contempt and vitriol.
He hates doctors who work in hospitals.
Just pure contempt and vitriol.
December 21, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Yes.
He hates doctors who work in hospitals.
Just pure contempt and vitriol.
He hates doctors who work in hospitals.
Just pure contempt and vitriol.
Reposted by Allen
It will take decades to unfuckup this country.
September 5, 2025 at 8:04 PM
It will take decades to unfuckup this country.
Reposted by Allen
I got this comment in response to a post on X and it just made me think that a lot of these reactionaries just have no idea about even the basics of American history, and have been fed a false and rosy nostalgic view of things in the honestly recent past.
/also the comment about China is dumb.
/also the comment about China is dumb.
December 20, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I got this comment in response to a post on X and it just made me think that a lot of these reactionaries just have no idea about even the basics of American history, and have been fed a false and rosy nostalgic view of things in the honestly recent past.
/also the comment about China is dumb.
/also the comment about China is dumb.
Reposted by Allen
This story—from Lancaster PA—is yet another scary reminder that the police and media can't be trusted to think logically when riders are hit and badly injured by negligent drivers.
Warning: Don't play the video in the story if you will be triggered seeing a crash.
www.wgal.com/article/penn...
Warning: Don't play the video in the story if you will be triggered seeing a crash.
www.wgal.com/article/penn...
E-bike rider hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being run over by truck, police say
Emergency dispatchers said a person riding an e-bike was run over by a truck on Thursday morning. Emergency crews are at the scene, and a road is closed.
www.wgal.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:18 PM
This story—from Lancaster PA—is yet another scary reminder that the police and media can't be trusted to think logically when riders are hit and badly injured by negligent drivers.
Warning: Don't play the video in the story if you will be triggered seeing a crash.
www.wgal.com/article/penn...
Warning: Don't play the video in the story if you will be triggered seeing a crash.
www.wgal.com/article/penn...
Reposted by Allen
Thanks to all the marks on both sides of the aisle who enabled this by falling for a gobsmackingly stupid manufactured moral panic.
The US TikTok sale has been signed. The company will be controlled by a joint venture including Oracle, Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz, Abu Dhabi-based MGX. Adding a UAE company really makes it clear that this was never about national security concerns.
www.axios.com/2025/12/18/t...
www.axios.com/2025/12/18/t...
Scoop: TikTok signs deal for sale of U.S. unit after yearslong saga
The deal would end a yearslong saga to force TikTok's Chinese parent ByteDance to sell the company's U.S. operation.
www.axios.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Thanks to all the marks on both sides of the aisle who enabled this by falling for a gobsmackingly stupid manufactured moral panic.
Reposted by Allen
"Trump has three years left in office, and the lesson he took from the shutdown is that Congress—including Democrats—isn’t really going to stop his assault on the separation of powers."
Today whole bunch of Senate Dems voted to pass a $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act. 🙃
Today whole bunch of Senate Dems voted to pass a $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act. 🙃
Constitutional Softball: Congress Gives Up Its Power of the Purse - The American Prospect
After the shutdown deal, Trump has gone right back to withholding funds and dismantling appropriated entities.
prospect.org
December 17, 2025 at 8:10 PM
"Trump has three years left in office, and the lesson he took from the shutdown is that Congress—including Democrats—isn’t really going to stop his assault on the separation of powers."
Today whole bunch of Senate Dems voted to pass a $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act. 🙃
Today whole bunch of Senate Dems voted to pass a $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act. 🙃
Reposted by Allen
It is so clear that @cantwell.senate.gov needs to go. She just got reelected but I won’t forget her weakness and am ready to support a primary challenger when the time comes.
16 Democratic senators joined Republicans in confirming a close ally of Elon Musk as head of NASA:
Baldwin
Cantwell
Durbin
Fetterman
Gallego
Gillibrand
Hassan
Heinrich
Kaine
Kelly
Kim
King
Schiff
Shaheen
Slotkin
Warner
Baldwin
Cantwell
Durbin
Fetterman
Gallego
Gillibrand
Hassan
Heinrich
Kaine
Kelly
Kim
King
Schiff
Shaheen
Slotkin
Warner
December 18, 2025 at 10:13 PM
It is so clear that @cantwell.senate.gov needs to go. She just got reelected but I won’t forget her weakness and am ready to support a primary challenger when the time comes.