Ned Raggett
@nedraggett.bsky.social
Hi! I write about music at various spots (@thequietus.com, @thewiremagazine.bsky.social, Shfl and my Patreon, also in the past @allmusic.com, @pitchfork.com, @bandcamp.com etc. etc.). Plus podcasting about #Tolkien with friends at @bythebywater.bsky.social
Pinned
Ned Raggett
@nedraggett.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Given the very specific circumstances, I'd either check to see if I'm on drugs or if the baby is on drugs and if the latter find out where I could get some because clearly those are some gooooood drugs.
Well, it's time for some honest to god Bluesky lore.
A year ago, the site was still invite only, and one morning I posted something random and didn't think much about it beyond my own amusement.
This is the story about the #ChristianSkydivingBaby and how it completely took over @bsky.app (1/x)
A year ago, the site was still invite only, and one morning I posted something random and didn't think much about it beyond my own amusement.
This is the story about the #ChristianSkydivingBaby and how it completely took over @bsky.app (1/x)
Reposted by Ned Raggett
I would absolutely go to see the darkly comedic yet surprisingly warmhearted sleeper hit Love Me Don't
February 3, 2026 at 10:09 PM
I would absolutely go to see the darkly comedic yet surprisingly warmhearted sleeper hit Love Me Don't
See a film about these people would be worth all those things Mendes is doing.
February 3, 2026 at 10:06 PM
See a film about these people would be worth all those things Mendes is doing.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
the villains in neuromancer being a family of gross inbred rich weirdos who want to live forever in space feels a little too on the nose
February 2, 2026 at 2:29 PM
the villains in neuromancer being a family of gross inbred rich weirdos who want to live forever in space feels a little too on the nose
Reposted by Ned Raggett
like, she is literally still at her firm? and she also serves as a city attorney for multiple cities? there's no reason to go do the government's dirty work.
February 3, 2026 at 9:45 PM
like, she is literally still at her firm? and she also serves as a city attorney for multiple cities? there's no reason to go do the government's dirty work.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
The children that were imprisoned from Liam Ramos’ school at the time he was imprisoned are still imprisoned as far as I know.
Another reminder that ICE has not eased up on Minnesota. They're abducting kids as young as 2 and disappearing them.
Minnesota needs to know the number of children in federal detention, who they are, and where they’re being held.
February 3, 2026 at 9:45 PM
The children that were imprisoned from Liam Ramos’ school at the time he was imprisoned are still imprisoned as far as I know.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Let me know when these attorneys stop just walking away and start disassembling. I'll wait.
February 3, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Let me know when these attorneys stop just walking away and start disassembling. I'll wait.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
I have confirmed the gist of this report out of federal court in Minnesota today from a source familiar.
If you have more information about the District of Minnesota—either the court or the U.S. Attorney's Office—and how they are handling all of this, please reach out. I am at crg.32 on Signal.
If you have more information about the District of Minnesota—either the court or the U.S. Attorney's Office—and how they are handling all of this, please reach out. I am at crg.32 on Signal.
February 3, 2026 at 9:38 PM
I have confirmed the gist of this report out of federal court in Minnesota today from a source familiar.
If you have more information about the District of Minnesota—either the court or the U.S. Attorney's Office—and how they are handling all of this, please reach out. I am at crg.32 on Signal.
If you have more information about the District of Minnesota—either the court or the U.S. Attorney's Office—and how they are handling all of this, please reach out. I am at crg.32 on Signal.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
These guys two months ago: ha ha I hope there's a civil war we'll make those LIBERAL BITCHES cry for mercy
These guys now: waaaaaa they're using whistles it's not FAIR waaaaa
(You can get free community safety whistles, quantity 100 to 1000, from here:
linktr.ee/3Dwhistles
)
These guys now: waaaaaa they're using whistles it's not FAIR waaaaa
(You can get free community safety whistles, quantity 100 to 1000, from here:
linktr.ee/3Dwhistles
)
Right-wing media figures are furious at activists for using whistles during ICE activity
Right-wing media figures are lashing out at community members in Minnesota for using whistles to alert others of federal immigration enforcement in the area, asserting that whistles should be “conside...
www.mediamatters.org
February 3, 2026 at 7:40 PM
These guys two months ago: ha ha I hope there's a civil war we'll make those LIBERAL BITCHES cry for mercy
These guys now: waaaaaa they're using whistles it's not FAIR waaaaa
(You can get free community safety whistles, quantity 100 to 1000, from here:
linktr.ee/3Dwhistles
)
These guys now: waaaaaa they're using whistles it's not FAIR waaaaa
(You can get free community safety whistles, quantity 100 to 1000, from here:
linktr.ee/3Dwhistles
)
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Some people have questioned whether this is real. First, Blume is a legit reporter who's covering the courts in earnest. Second, there's a MN-barred attorney named Julie Le whose address is literally the Whipple Building. Another attorney confirmed to me she's a private attorney contracting with DOJ
February 3, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Some people have questioned whether this is real. First, Blume is a legit reporter who's covering the courts in earnest. Second, there's a MN-barred attorney named Julie Le whose address is literally the Whipple Building. Another attorney confirmed to me she's a private attorney contracting with DOJ
Reposted by Ned Raggett
This is unreal. An AUSA talking like that in open court is about as close as you can come to a total breakdown. Never heard of anything like it.
February 3, 2026 at 8:46 PM
This is unreal. An AUSA talking like that in open court is about as close as you can come to a total breakdown. Never heard of anything like it.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
In the Bay Area, local prosecutors have charged student protesters who participated in pro-Palestine demonstrations with felony-level charges that critics are warning are setting a dangerous template for law enforcement responses.
@psfrench.bsky.social reports on what's going on in this new piece:
@psfrench.bsky.social reports on what's going on in this new piece:
In Bay Area, Felony Charges Against Student Protesters Prompt Free Speech Concerns - Bolts
German Gonzalez grew up about an hour south of Stanford University, in a dusty California farming town where the apples for Martinelli’s sparkling cider are juiced and packaged. In high... Read More
boltsmag.org
February 3, 2026 at 8:58 PM
In the Bay Area, local prosecutors have charged student protesters who participated in pro-Palestine demonstrations with felony-level charges that critics are warning are setting a dangerous template for law enforcement responses.
@psfrench.bsky.social reports on what's going on in this new piece:
@psfrench.bsky.social reports on what's going on in this new piece:
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Beak looking like a Far Side character talking
Look at this cardinal enjoying an unsalted cashew in our backyard.
February 3, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Beak looking like a Far Side character talking
Reposted by Ned Raggett
33. I'm never sure if this kind of thing is #agoodthing or not, but whilst it was fun to watch the playing and drum choreography of the Bands of the HM Royal Marines do their Prodigy Medley I note
a) they totally fluff the flute solo in Voodoo People
b) they stay well away from Out Of Space
a) they totally fluff the flute solo in Voodoo People
b) they stay well away from Out Of Space
The Prodigy Medley | The Bands of HM Royal Marines
YouTube video by The Bands of HM Royal Marines
youtu.be
February 3, 2026 at 8:37 PM
33. I'm never sure if this kind of thing is #agoodthing or not, but whilst it was fun to watch the playing and drum choreography of the Bands of the HM Royal Marines do their Prodigy Medley I note
a) they totally fluff the flute solo in Voodoo People
b) they stay well away from Out Of Space
a) they totally fluff the flute solo in Voodoo People
b) they stay well away from Out Of Space
Reposted by Ned Raggett
This is genuinely good news, and means that -- with some notable exceptions -- Democrats have now gone to the mat to protect trans people, in the face of the reactionary centrists trying very hard to get the party to throw them under the bus
Side note: None of the spending bills passed in the "minibus" had any anti-trans riders. This includes the bill that funds the Department of Health and Human Services
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
House votes to reopen the government–setting up a fight over ICE
The Senate and the White House will now negotiate guardrails for ICE and CBP agents after the killing of both Renee Good and Alex Pretti
www.independent.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 8:27 PM
This is genuinely good news, and means that -- with some notable exceptions -- Democrats have now gone to the mat to protect trans people, in the face of the reactionary centrists trying very hard to get the party to throw them under the bus
Reposted by Ned Raggett
This is fundamentally shite of Google, and it's a good moment to recall that archive.org holds about 900K public-domain books originally digitised by Google, and that IA's metadata may be lousy but their search is good.
This is a good explainer of Google's latest theft of the commons. THE COMMONS: Not private property. Most of the books and documents are public domain. They could have written a few lines of code and just limited to those. They did not. The long game is to own us.
winbuzzer.com/2026/01/28/g...
winbuzzer.com/2026/01/28/g...
Google Disables Search for Book Previews
Google has disabled search functionality for preview books on Google Books, leaving users unable to search through pages that remain visible on the platform.
winbuzzer.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:11 PM
This is fundamentally shite of Google, and it's a good moment to recall that archive.org holds about 900K public-domain books originally digitised by Google, and that IA's metadata may be lousy but their search is good.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
The Utah Historical Society just produced a new, excellent map of "The Peoples of North America in 1776." Great resource for anyone teaching, writing, presenting about Native peoples as part of their 250th work. america250.utah.gov/power-of-pla...
February 3, 2026 at 1:49 PM
The Utah Historical Society just produced a new, excellent map of "The Peoples of North America in 1776." Great resource for anyone teaching, writing, presenting about Native peoples as part of their 250th work. america250.utah.gov/power-of-pla...
Reposted by Ned Raggett
and this is exactly why i told students for YEARS not to rely solely on google's tools for their research. google scholar, google books, google data, google patents... all of these are likely to just stop functioning sooner rather than later.
February 3, 2026 at 8:07 PM
and this is exactly why i told students for YEARS not to rely solely on google's tools for their research. google scholar, google books, google data, google patents... all of these are likely to just stop functioning sooner rather than later.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Can comfirm from MN, as can anyone who lives here, that not a THING has changed except little Bovino isnt peacocking around the streets anymore. And there hasn’t been a third high-profile murder of a white person yet.
But the gestapo attacks haven’t stopped. At all! bsky.app/profile/jyse...
But the gestapo attacks haven’t stopped. At all! bsky.app/profile/jyse...
ICE hasn't stopped brutalizing people or shredding the Constitution, it's just that corporate media turned the camera as the call for action got too loud and the Democrats stepped in and made sure the issue got changed.
If you sit for a second, you'll recognize that's what happened with BLM, too.
If you sit for a second, you'll recognize that's what happened with BLM, too.
February 3, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Can comfirm from MN, as can anyone who lives here, that not a THING has changed except little Bovino isnt peacocking around the streets anymore. And there hasn’t been a third high-profile murder of a white person yet.
But the gestapo attacks haven’t stopped. At all! bsky.app/profile/jyse...
But the gestapo attacks haven’t stopped. At all! bsky.app/profile/jyse...
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Pretty great hearing about such initiatives--seems very vital during these times
bayareacurrent.com/bay-area-chi...
bayareacurrent.com/bay-area-chi...
Bay Area Chinese Leftists Are Making Language Political
We were in a very Chinese time in our lives. We decided to do something about it.
bayareacurrent.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Pretty great hearing about such initiatives--seems very vital during these times
bayareacurrent.com/bay-area-chi...
bayareacurrent.com/bay-area-chi...
Reposted by Ned Raggett
I didn’t understand the photo of what appeared to be a murder suspect appearing at trial being posted all over, you’re telling me that’s Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney????
February 3, 2026 at 8:12 PM
I didn’t understand the photo of what appeared to be a murder suspect appearing at trial being posted all over, you’re telling me that’s Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney????
Reposted by Ned Raggett
new york: highly suggest saving this to your phone to consult! a looot of people have (understandably!) been reporting joint task force empire shield/national guard as ICE but nope they are a different group of losers who hang out on the subway for no fuckin' reason
February 3, 2026 at 8:12 PM
new york: highly suggest saving this to your phone to consult! a looot of people have (understandably!) been reporting joint task force empire shield/national guard as ICE but nope they are a different group of losers who hang out on the subway for no fuckin' reason
Okay, one last _Monarch_ season 2 trailer here, bring it on in a couple of weeks...
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters — Season 2 Official Trailer | Apple TV
YouTube video by Apple TV
youtu.be
February 3, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Okay, one last _Monarch_ season 2 trailer here, bring it on in a couple of weeks...
So over on FB @chunkletindustries.bsky.social talked about his Spacemen 3 obsession (rightly) and shared a very clean sounding tape of them in Kassel, Germany, 1989. Enjoy. Attn. @quartzcity.bsky.social and @highway62.bsky.social and @catbus.phd and etc. fromsmash.com/WsrnG.i30j-ft
February 3, 2026 at 7:19 PM
So over on FB @chunkletindustries.bsky.social talked about his Spacemen 3 obsession (rightly) and shared a very clean sounding tape of them in Kassel, Germany, 1989. Enjoy. Attn. @quartzcity.bsky.social and @highway62.bsky.social and @catbus.phd and etc. fromsmash.com/WsrnG.i30j-ft
“I have suddenly become aware of these creatures called, I think, ‘humans,’ and for some reason they keep making fun of me.”
OPENAI CEO SAM ALTMAN SAYS DIFFUSION OF AI IN SOME WAYS IS SLOWER THAN HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
February 3, 2026 at 6:05 PM
“I have suddenly become aware of these creatures called, I think, ‘humans,’ and for some reason they keep making fun of me.”
Reposted by Ned Raggett
The bit where she laughs and sings "Feeels so gooood"
February 3, 2026 at 3:56 PM
The bit where she laughs and sings "Feeels so gooood"