Rick Brown
@brownbattery.bsky.social
Music: https://75dollarbill.bandcamp.com
I play crate and blow things
Office worker, proud union member, NYC renter, soon* to be retiree
previously: https://brownoutspassed.bandcamp.com/ and http://www.juliagorton.com/coming-new-products/beat-it-zine-comp
I play crate and blow things
Office worker, proud union member, NYC renter, soon* to be retiree
previously: https://brownoutspassed.bandcamp.com/ and http://www.juliagorton.com/coming-new-products/beat-it-zine-comp
Pinned
Rick Brown
@brownbattery.bsky.social
· Jan 22
took me a while, but I'm here now. Do we do intro posts? I'm a 67 y.o. musician and office worker in NYC. Married to Sue Garner (who is supposedly here, too?) At twenty I made the fanzine _Beat It!_ with Julia Gorton. I've been in a bunch of bands - currently, and for about 13 years: 75 Dollar Bill
Nancy Blake's "hillbilly" antiwar instrumental "Planet Riders"
Norman and Nancy Blake - Planet Riders (Full Video)
YouTube video by Rural Guitar
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Nancy Blake's "hillbilly" antiwar instrumental "Planet Riders"
Reposted by Rick Brown
As he prepares to depart office, Adams is leaving thousands of vital positions in City government vacant, but has chosen to prioritize filling posts that will royally screw over a lot of New Yorkers.
hellgatenyc.com/eric-adams-m...
hellgatenyc.com/eric-adams-m...
Mayor Adams Prepares to Gobble Up Rent Guidelines Board Appointments
And other links to start your "what am I doing at the office Wednesday."
hellgatenyc.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
As he prepares to depart office, Adams is leaving thousands of vital positions in City government vacant, but has chosen to prioritize filling posts that will royally screw over a lot of New Yorkers.
hellgatenyc.com/eric-adams-m...
hellgatenyc.com/eric-adams-m...
As a 'percussionist' I'm in awe of the left hands of people like this (right hands are doing fine - I just understand what's happening better!)
Norman Blake flatpicks Randall Collins and Done Gone
YouTube video by GtrWorkShp
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 10:29 PM
As a 'percussionist' I'm in awe of the left hands of people like this (right hands are doing fine - I just understand what's happening better!)
Reposted by Rick Brown
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old.
www.whatimreading.net
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Reposted by Rick Brown
Q: “Are you affirming you think Trump is a fascist?”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
November 21, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Q: “Are you affirming you think Trump is a fascist?”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
Reposted by Rick Brown
Enten: "This is probably the worst 10 day period for the president in the polls his entire second term. The numbers are just atrocious ... when your best poll has you 14 points underwater, you know it's truly bad and it's as bad as 26 points underwater ... -43 with independents! They despise him."
November 21, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Enten: "This is probably the worst 10 day period for the president in the polls his entire second term. The numbers are just atrocious ... when your best poll has you 14 points underwater, you know it's truly bad and it's as bad as 26 points underwater ... -43 with independents! They despise him."
Reposted by Rick Brown
Socialism is what they called public power.
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
November 21, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Socialism is what they called public power.
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Reposted by Rick Brown
It's always hard to pick a worst day politically, but today the president called for the death of members of the opposition party, and the administration decided that people were being too hard on the swastika
November 21, 2025 at 4:15 AM
It's always hard to pick a worst day politically, but today the president called for the death of members of the opposition party, and the administration decided that people were being too hard on the swastika
Reposted by Rick Brown
Despicable
open.substack.com/pub/steady/p...
Great read from Dan Rather:
"...The very existence of a free press is a threat to this president’s modus operandi, which is to govern by lying. Why would he want people around him who ask for facts and truthful answers?..."
#BlueCrew #MisogynistInChief
open.substack.com/pub/steady/p...
Great read from Dan Rather:
"...The very existence of a free press is a threat to this president’s modus operandi, which is to govern by lying. Why would he want people around him who ask for facts and truthful answers?..."
#BlueCrew #MisogynistInChief
Despicable
The bully-in-chief is targeting women in the White House press corps
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Despicable
open.substack.com/pub/steady/p...
Great read from Dan Rather:
"...The very existence of a free press is a threat to this president’s modus operandi, which is to govern by lying. Why would he want people around him who ask for facts and truthful answers?..."
#BlueCrew #MisogynistInChief
open.substack.com/pub/steady/p...
Great read from Dan Rather:
"...The very existence of a free press is a threat to this president’s modus operandi, which is to govern by lying. Why would he want people around him who ask for facts and truthful answers?..."
#BlueCrew #MisogynistInChief
Reposted by Rick Brown
Jeffries: "What's extraordinary to me is that Mike Johnson doesn't even have the decency to distance himself from Donald Trump's death threats leveled at patriotic members of Congress. Even John Thune had the decency to distance himself from Trump's remarks. But Mike Johnson couldn't say a thing."
November 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Jeffries: "What's extraordinary to me is that Mike Johnson doesn't even have the decency to distance himself from Donald Trump's death threats leveled at patriotic members of Congress. Even John Thune had the decency to distance himself from Trump's remarks. But Mike Johnson couldn't say a thing."
Reposted by Rick Brown
Earlier this morning, President Trump threatened me and a group of service and veteran Members of Congress with arrest, trial, and death by hanging.
Here’s my response:
Here’s my response:
November 20, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Earlier this morning, President Trump threatened me and a group of service and veteran Members of Congress with arrest, trial, and death by hanging.
Here’s my response:
Here’s my response:
Reposted by Rick Brown
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Clifford “Buzz” Grambo patrols the streets of Baltimore to keep his neighbors safe—and make federal agents uncomfortable.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Reposted by Rick Brown
I think the President of the US responding to a question about the murder of a journalist with "A lot of people didn't like that gentleman" is probably pretty bad.
November 18, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I think the President of the US responding to a question about the murder of a journalist with "A lot of people didn't like that gentleman" is probably pretty bad.
Reposted by Rick Brown
New polling in New York State shows that 60% of the population supports increasing taxes on the top 5% of income earners.
New Yorkers are also in favor of increasing taxes on large corporations based in the state, 60-30%.
sri.siena.edu/2025/11/18/h...
New Yorkers are also in favor of increasing taxes on large corporations based in the state, 60-30%.
sri.siena.edu/2025/11/18/h...
Hochul Approval/Favorability Ratings Down a Little; Maintains Huge Lead Over Delgado Among Dems; Leads Stefanik by 20 Points, down from 25 in September – Siena Research Institute
sri.siena.edu
November 19, 2025 at 3:14 PM
New polling in New York State shows that 60% of the population supports increasing taxes on the top 5% of income earners.
New Yorkers are also in favor of increasing taxes on large corporations based in the state, 60-30%.
sri.siena.edu/2025/11/18/h...
New Yorkers are also in favor of increasing taxes on large corporations based in the state, 60-30%.
sri.siena.edu/2025/11/18/h...
Reposted by Rick Brown
I wish we lived in a land where if journalists heard the president call one of their colleges "piggy" or suggest another of their colleagues, who was butchered for what he wrote, in some way had it coming, they would close their laptops, leave as soon as possible, and ask to be reassigned.
November 18, 2025 at 10:01 PM
I wish we lived in a land where if journalists heard the president call one of their colleges "piggy" or suggest another of their colleagues, who was butchered for what he wrote, in some way had it coming, they would close their laptops, leave as soon as possible, and ask to be reassigned.
Reposted by Rick Brown
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination
Audio recordings, intercepted phone calls and other intelligence link Mohammed bin Salman to killing that Saudis say was conducted by rogue elements.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
Reposted by Rick Brown
Authoritarianism arrives with emails like this. The masked brute squad may or may not accost you later, be sure to carry your papers.
Email just went out on my campus that the Immigration Goons ("federal immigration agents") will be in town (Raleigh).
Inter alia, it says,"International students, faculty and staff should carry evidence of their immigration status with them at all times."
The fuck kind of country are we living in?
Inter alia, it says,"International students, faculty and staff should carry evidence of their immigration status with them at all times."
The fuck kind of country are we living in?
November 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Authoritarianism arrives with emails like this. The masked brute squad may or may not accost you later, be sure to carry your papers.
Reposted by Rick Brown
“Short bursts indicate an ICE sighting. Long whistles indicate agents making arrests. If you hear the whistle and you’re undocumented, said [Whitney Hu, a community activist and organizer with South Brooklyn Mutual Aid], ‘you hide. And if you’re somebody who’s not, you go to the street.’”
As ICE Street Raids Ramp Up, New Yorkers Stock Up On Whistles
Taking a cue from Chicago, community groups have distributed thousands of whistles in recent weeks — a grassroots system people in other cities have adopted to help neighbors sound the alarm.
www.thecity.nyc
November 17, 2025 at 1:44 PM
“Short bursts indicate an ICE sighting. Long whistles indicate agents making arrests. If you hear the whistle and you’re undocumented, said [Whitney Hu, a community activist and organizer with South Brooklyn Mutual Aid], ‘you hide. And if you’re somebody who’s not, you go to the street.’”
Reposted by Rick Brown
In 1999 when I was The Guardian's Music Critic a PR phoned & said he had a great band he wanted me to see. So I went. It was dark & I couldn't see the PR's face. When the lights came up I realised The PR was not a man at all, or a PR, but a beagle.
I didn't like the band. they were called Coldplay.
I didn't like the band. they were called Coldplay.
November 16, 2025 at 5:24 PM
In 1999 when I was The Guardian's Music Critic a PR phoned & said he had a great band he wanted me to see. So I went. It was dark & I couldn't see the PR's face. When the lights came up I realised The PR was not a man at all, or a PR, but a beagle.
I didn't like the band. they were called Coldplay.
I didn't like the band. they were called Coldplay.
Reposted by Rick Brown
What a photograph.
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
November 15, 2025 at 1:51 PM
What a photograph.
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Reposted by Rick Brown
Fact-check: true 😕
November 13, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Fact-check: true 😕
Reposted by Rick Brown
Eric is truly a man of the people.
Eric Trump: "You can send $500 million worth of bitcoin on a Sunday night at 11pm while having a glass of wine with your wife for virtually zero fees."
November 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Eric is truly a man of the people.
Reposted by Rick Brown
Karoline Leavitt standing in front of her sole job description
November 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Karoline Leavitt standing in front of her sole job description
Reposted by Rick Brown
"Please trust us now when we say that what is happening in the Chicago area is wrong *** It is not law enforcement; it is terror."
Letter from Chicago broadcast veterans: Federal immigration agents have traumatized us and eroded our rights
The fact that some federal immigration forces may be leaving soon is cold comfort given the damage they’ve done.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
"Please trust us now when we say that what is happening in the Chicago area is wrong *** It is not law enforcement; it is terror."
Reposted by Rick Brown
Today is a good day to remember, and to say, that the #MeToo movement was right, and was righteous, and has been vindicated over and over again. There was no overreach. There was no excess. There was no they-went-too-far.
So much work remains to be done.
So much work remains to be done.
November 12, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Today is a good day to remember, and to say, that the #MeToo movement was right, and was righteous, and has been vindicated over and over again. There was no overreach. There was no excess. There was no they-went-too-far.
So much work remains to be done.
So much work remains to be done.