A far-right attack on a community college reveals a blueprint for destroying higher ed

The problem goes far beyond a three-person majority on the trustee board of a small community college. NIC and many other institutions are in danger because, over the last decade and a half, a core group of extremists has slowly taken over the Idaho Republican Party in the same way that a parasitic wasp slowly takes over its host. This required no astroturfing or Koch-fueled cash infusions, just a regular, everyday indifference to hyperlocal politics. The tactic is underway elsewhere, but Idaho got a head start. This crisis is what happens when insurgency bears fruit.

Emphasis mine. Currently looking for more ways to be involved in my community.


Remind me later is a comic about “technological problems.”


it’s okay if you just pick one thing you really care about, and it’s okay if that thing is “being a good friend” instead of “maximizing your potential”

On what it means to not have time


Walkcast is an ever-changing podcast generated as you walk, revealing the hidden layers that surround you.


I don’t need these people’s psychodramas in my head anymore:

“The closest thing to a political point I want to make is that I’ve dedicated far too much brain-space, in recent years, to marinating in the psyches of the angry, cynical and damaged men currently ascendant in our politics – which is basically what you’re doing when you spend time on Twitter, idly surf online media, or consume most TV news.”


I don’t need these people’s psychodramas in my head anymore

“The closest thing to a political point I want to make is that I’ve dedicated far too much brain-space, in recent years, to marinating in the psyches of the angry, cynical and damaged men currently ascendant in our politics – which is basically what you’re doing when you spend time on Twitter, idly surf online media, or consume most TV news.”

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Mornings spent offline:

This is a recent development in the history of human civilization: To wake up with the whole world in your bed


Private “homemade” docs > AI slop:

While Google Docs and Maps are easily shareable, some creators keep them close to their chests. “The docs I make are usually a curation of my friends’, lovers’, and personal recommendations of the cities I’ve been to,” Held says. “For this reason, they’re kinda sacred to me.” She appreciates the time, effort, and gesture of a good city doc, and tries to repay the favor: If anyone shares a doc with her, she’ll offer one of hers in return.


Re-buttonization:

There seems to be this kind of richness of the tactile experience that’s afforded by pushing buttons. They’re not perfect for every situation, but I think increasingly, we’re realizing the merit that the interface offers.


Links for Week 45, 2024

An illustrated guide to science-backed mood boosters. A zine about reclaiming your life from digital technology. A tool for searching independent websites. A collection of the “best” marketing headlines on the internet. Over the Garden Wall’s 10th anniversary stop motion short. Max Vogel Gonzalez’s illustrations. An experiment with giving out potatoes to trick or treaters. A concept to break procrastination. Some objects I covet: Nike C1TY “Surplus” shoes, El Oso Bear Tee, the Kobo Clara Colour, and the book Assembling Tomorrow.

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