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)
Meantime on RuPaul's #DragRaceUK vs. the World
February 4, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Meantime on RuPaul's #DragRaceUK vs. the World
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Thread.
It’s hard to put into perspective how truly massive the warehouse is that was recently sold by the Rockefeller Group to the Department of Homeland Security for $70 million to build a concentration camp in Surprise, AZ. Across the street is a huge neighborhood and a school. It’s 400,000-square-feet.
February 4, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Thread.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
journalists are workers who deserve to be paid fairly for our labor and I think that far too few consumers of media recognize or even care about this fact
February 4, 2026 at 5:20 PM
journalists are workers who deserve to be paid fairly for our labor and I think that far too few consumers of media recognize or even care about this fact
Reposted by Ned Raggett
INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.
February 4, 2026 at 5:11 PM
INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
I think one thing people outside Minnesota don't understand is that after Good and Pretti were killed by feds while observing, the most normal people you could imagine have made peace with the fact that they could be next, and they are still out there because they say it's the right thing to do.
“If I am killed doing this, throw my body at the White House, martyr the shit out of me & raise hell. Do not be sad. Do not think I would do anything differently. I would do it over & over again — this is too important to sit down & shut up and not do anything.” www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Pursued by federal agents, suburban ICE observers remain resolved
After a frightening pursuit by federal agents, suburban ICE observers say fear hasn’t stopped them from protecting their communities.
www.mprnews.org
February 4, 2026 at 4:30 PM
I think one thing people outside Minnesota don't understand is that after Good and Pretti were killed by feds while observing, the most normal people you could imagine have made peace with the fact that they could be next, and they are still out there because they say it's the right thing to do.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Thirty-five years. What more can I say?
The thing about the _Tremolo_ EP (and the preceding _Glider_ EP) is that both are their own distinct works, they're not just the singles from _Loveless_ in advance. You can't understand MBV without understanding them in turn.
Plus, a fave story... (1/x)
The thing about the _Tremolo_ EP (and the preceding _Glider_ EP) is that both are their own distinct works, they're not just the singles from _Loveless_ in advance. You can't understand MBV without understanding them in turn.
Plus, a fave story... (1/x)
February 4, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Thirty-five years. What more can I say?
The thing about the _Tremolo_ EP (and the preceding _Glider_ EP) is that both are their own distinct works, they're not just the singles from _Loveless_ in advance. You can't understand MBV without understanding them in turn.
Plus, a fave story... (1/x)
The thing about the _Tremolo_ EP (and the preceding _Glider_ EP) is that both are their own distinct works, they're not just the singles from _Loveless_ in advance. You can't understand MBV without understanding them in turn.
Plus, a fave story... (1/x)
This tour anniversary series from Chris has already been delightful/telling for the recorded observations of normie fans/attendees. Most of us now would kill to be transported to even at an off night in this era. At the time? Well, to quote from the _Oregon Journal_'s reporter on the scene:
February 4, 2026 at 5:16 PM
This tour anniversary series from Chris has already been delightful/telling for the recorded observations of normie fans/attendees. Most of us now would kill to be transported to even at an off night in this era. At the time? Well, to quote from the _Oregon Journal_'s reporter on the scene:
Reposted by Ned Raggett
After Pinterest laid off 15% of its staff to focus on an AI-forward approach," several engineers at the company created software to track the layoffs.
Pinterest then fired the engineers.
Pinterest then fired the engineers.
February 4, 2026 at 4:10 PM
After Pinterest laid off 15% of its staff to focus on an AI-forward approach," several engineers at the company created software to track the layoffs.
Pinterest then fired the engineers.
Pinterest then fired the engineers.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Team resources is why worker-owned media collectives are so important. It's not gonna fix everything, especially the problem of readers only having so much cash, but everyone can't go it alone.
A lot of people cannot just start a paid newsletter or become freelancers to sustain their careers. The sports, metro, and international desks did work that requires *team* resources, like legal checks, documents, access to archives, and long-term beat experience.
February 4, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Team resources is why worker-owned media collectives are so important. It's not gonna fix everything, especially the problem of readers only having so much cash, but everyone can't go it alone.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
i suppose it’s fitting that the model the billionaires have in mind when they want to destroy a journalistic institution and make it a reactionary slop machine is The Free Press
February 4, 2026 at 4:02 PM
i suppose it’s fitting that the model the billionaires have in mind when they want to destroy a journalistic institution and make it a reactionary slop machine is The Free Press
Reposted by Ned Raggett
“.. Anthropic can't make a plugin for Campbell's soup.”
- Vital Knowledge
- Vital Knowledge
February 4, 2026 at 4:07 PM
“.. Anthropic can't make a plugin for Campbell's soup.”
- Vital Knowledge
- Vital Knowledge
Reposted by Ned Raggett
McCartney writes some songs for the whole family.
@dicknixon.bsky.social Sir, it is well known you were an Elvis man, while this old article shared elsewhere by @anniezaleski.bsky.social shows you had different thoughts of a time regarding another notable group of entertainers. Have your feelings changed either way?
February 4, 2026 at 2:31 PM
McCartney writes some songs for the whole family.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Going to be walking around saying “I don’t understand them…do you?” in a Futurama Nixon voice all damn day, I suspect.
@dicknixon.bsky.social Sir, it is well known you were an Elvis man, while this old article shared elsewhere by @anniezaleski.bsky.social shows you had different thoughts of a time regarding another notable group of entertainers. Have your feelings changed either way?
February 4, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Going to be walking around saying “I don’t understand them…do you?” in a Futurama Nixon voice all damn day, I suspect.
@dicknixon.bsky.social Sir, it is well known you were an Elvis man, while this old article shared elsewhere by @anniezaleski.bsky.social shows you had different thoughts of a time regarding another notable group of entertainers. Have your feelings changed either way?
February 4, 2026 at 1:58 PM
@dicknixon.bsky.social Sir, it is well known you were an Elvis man, while this old article shared elsewhere by @anniezaleski.bsky.social shows you had different thoughts of a time regarding another notable group of entertainers. Have your feelings changed either way?
Reposted by Ned Raggett
How W.E.B. DuBois and James McCune Smith Helped Combat Medical Racism in America
Michelle A. Williams on Black Contributions to American
Public Health and Sociology
lithub.com/how-w-e-b-du...
Books by DuBois at PG:
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho...
#blackhistorymonth #medicine #sociology
Michelle A. Williams on Black Contributions to American
Public Health and Sociology
lithub.com/how-w-e-b-du...
Books by DuBois at PG:
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho...
#blackhistorymonth #medicine #sociology
How W.E.B. DuBois and James McCune Smith Helped Combat Medical Racism in America
The most prominent of Du Bois’s intellectual influences was James McCune Smith. Brilliant and uncompromising, Smith was a public intellectual with the distinction of being the United States’ first …
lithub.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:47 PM
How W.E.B. DuBois and James McCune Smith Helped Combat Medical Racism in America
Michelle A. Williams on Black Contributions to American
Public Health and Sociology
lithub.com/how-w-e-b-du...
Books by DuBois at PG:
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho...
#blackhistorymonth #medicine #sociology
Michelle A. Williams on Black Contributions to American
Public Health and Sociology
lithub.com/how-w-e-b-du...
Books by DuBois at PG:
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho...
#blackhistorymonth #medicine #sociology
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Meta now forcing all employees to use AI tools and tying it to employee performance, according to @theinformation.com.
HR said "this is not an activity tracker—it’s an impact-evidence starter"
That's a fun way to rebrand workplace surveillance.
HR said "this is not an activity tracker—it’s an impact-evidence starter"
That's a fun way to rebrand workplace surveillance.
February 4, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Meta now forcing all employees to use AI tools and tying it to employee performance, according to @theinformation.com.
HR said "this is not an activity tracker—it’s an impact-evidence starter"
That's a fun way to rebrand workplace surveillance.
HR said "this is not an activity tracker—it’s an impact-evidence starter"
That's a fun way to rebrand workplace surveillance.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Octavia’s brood; Black futures
February 4, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Octavia’s brood; Black futures
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Some years ago, I was chatting with a Retropolis reader, a young history student, and I mentioned there were several dozen people enslaved in New Jersey up until the day the 13th Amendment kicked in in December 1865.
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
February 4, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Some years ago, I was chatting with a Retropolis reader, a young history student, and I mentioned there were several dozen people enslaved in New Jersey up until the day the 13th Amendment kicked in in December 1865.
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
Y’all. He identified every one of them.
njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...
Reposted by Ned Raggett
History is awesome. Sit down and get smarter, friends.
I've told this story on ContrabandCamp but it's worth sharing for BHM because it's one of the greatest stories ever.
A thread.
A thread.
February 4, 2026 at 6:56 AM
History is awesome. Sit down and get smarter, friends.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Well this thread will repeatedly blow your mind
On Sept. 13, 1834 Lane Seminary in Oberlin, OH held an abolitionist debate
Students & locals came. ALL the abolitionists showed up. Abolitionst preacher Owen Brown, who built Western Reserve U came. Lane's president, who supported sending freed slaves back to Africa, even brought his young daughter
Students & locals came. ALL the abolitionists showed up. Abolitionst preacher Owen Brown, who built Western Reserve U came. Lane's president, who supported sending freed slaves back to Africa, even brought his young daughter
February 4, 2026 at 5:10 AM
Well this thread will repeatedly blow your mind
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Just watched THE SECET AGENT. Holy god. EVERYONE from Wagner Moura on down should be lauded. Bravo bravo to the writer/ director Kleber Mendonça Filho!
February 4, 2026 at 6:39 AM
Just watched THE SECET AGENT. Holy god. EVERYONE from Wagner Moura on down should be lauded. Bravo bravo to the writer/ director Kleber Mendonça Filho!
Reposted by Ned Raggett
At my MN precinct caucus tonight, a resolution calling on ICE to be more professional & follow the law got all Nays, but an "Abolish ICE" resolution got a unified resounding "AYE".
February 4, 2026 at 4:19 AM
At my MN precinct caucus tonight, a resolution calling on ICE to be more professional & follow the law got all Nays, but an "Abolish ICE" resolution got a unified resounding "AYE".
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Just realized Darkwing Duck's voice is a femme Wolfman Jack and I'm not sure what to do with this information
February 4, 2026 at 5:54 AM
Just realized Darkwing Duck's voice is a femme Wolfman Jack and I'm not sure what to do with this information
*The* most favorite, I dunno, but given that Spacemen 3 bootleg @chunkletindustries.bsky.social shared out earlier, they're on my mind so: "Take Me To The Other Side." First actual song I ever heard from them and honestly it's such a perfect lyrical/sonic statement of purpose.
February 4, 2026 at 5:07 AM
*The* most favorite, I dunno, but given that Spacemen 3 bootleg @chunkletindustries.bsky.social shared out earlier, they're on my mind so: "Take Me To The Other Side." First actual song I ever heard from them and honestly it's such a perfect lyrical/sonic statement of purpose.
Reposted by Ned Raggett
I was also at this festival and specific set and can confirm. My very 1998 photo of same:
February 4, 2026 at 12:36 AM
I was also at this festival and specific set and can confirm. My very 1998 photo of same: