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
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
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)
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:
Reposted by Ned Raggett
BTW, if you download this bear in mind that “side 2” of the tape is first. The song order should be: Rollercoaster / Transparent Radiation / Things’ll Never Be The Same / Take Me To The Other Side / Starship / Bo Diddley Jam / Mary Anne / Revolution
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 4, 2026 at 12:00 AM
BTW, if you download this bear in mind that “side 2” of the tape is first. The song order should be: Rollercoaster / Transparent Radiation / Things’ll Never Be The Same / Take Me To The Other Side / Starship / Bo Diddley Jam / Mary Anne / Revolution
Reposted by Ned Raggett
This is a good upgrade from the recordings of this gig that are out there. At least a generation or two up from the version that's linked here. spacemen3.blogspot.com/2016/11/spac... (surprisingly the mega.nz link in the comments still works!)
February 3, 2026 at 11:50 PM
This is a good upgrade from the recordings of this gig that are out there. At least a generation or two up from the version that's linked here. spacemen3.blogspot.com/2016/11/spac... (surprisingly the mega.nz link in the comments still works!)
Reposted by Ned Raggett
This excellent #documentary, A Place of Rage, is back on Criterion Channel for #BlackHistoryMonth. Rewatched it while eating dinner this evening. #BlackWomen #BlackHistory #BHM
Today I watched A Place of Rage (1991), part of Criterion’s #BlackHistoryMonth 2025 lineup. Directed by Pratibha Parmar, the #documentary features June Jordan, Angela Davis, and Alice Walker, with commentary by Trinh T. Minh-ha and Kelly Navies. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Place... #movies #BlackWomen
February 4, 2026 at 3:49 AM
This excellent #documentary, A Place of Rage, is back on Criterion Channel for #BlackHistoryMonth. Rewatched it while eating dinner this evening. #BlackWomen #BlackHistory #BHM
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Every Bitc*in ATM should be pulled into the street, doused in gasoline and set on fire
February 4, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Every Bitc*in ATM should be pulled into the street, doused in gasoline and set on fire
Reposted by Ned Raggett
Available on Vimeo in February is this half hour doc on 1940s era Memphis minister, photographer, & filmmaker Rev. L.0. Taylor . The film documents Taylor’s activism and his efforts documenting pre-civil rights era Black life in the South.
vimeo.com/158998653?fb...
vimeo.com/158998653?fb...
Sermons and Sacred Pictures by Lynne Sachs - 2025 Digital Preservation
“Sermons and Sacred Pictures: the life and work of Reverend L.O. Taylor” 29 minutes, Color and B&W, sound, 1989 2025 Preservation Restoration An…
vimeo.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:07 AM
Available on Vimeo in February is this half hour doc on 1940s era Memphis minister, photographer, & filmmaker Rev. L.0. Taylor . The film documents Taylor’s activism and his efforts documenting pre-civil rights era Black life in the South.
vimeo.com/158998653?fb...
vimeo.com/158998653?fb...
Reposted by Ned Raggett
fiona the hippo just turned nine (9). truly, time is fleeting
February 4, 2026 at 2:45 AM
fiona the hippo just turned nine (9). truly, time is fleeting
Reposted by Ned Raggett
*withers away into dust*
Today my Gen Z friend and I were talking about vintage tech, and she asked me what “the box under the screen” was called. I feel BAD about how loud I shouted “THE COMPUTER???” (“No, the box the screen sits on.” “THE COMPUTER???” I shouted again, even more rattled now)
February 4, 2026 at 12:56 AM
*withers away into dust*
Reposted by Ned Raggett
NEW: Letitia James, the New York attorney general, announced that her office will deploy "legal observers" to document ICE activity in NY.
Her office says the effort is the first of its kind by an AG.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/n...
Her office says the effort is the first of its kind by an AG.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/n...
New York Attorney General to Deploy Observers to Document ICE Raids
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:07 PM
NEW: Letitia James, the New York attorney general, announced that her office will deploy "legal observers" to document ICE activity in NY.
Her office says the effort is the first of its kind by an AG.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/n...
Her office says the effort is the first of its kind by an AG.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/n...
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)
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: