Michael Patterson
@proportionwheel.bsky.social
Old Grump, FKA Proportionwheel. I have decided the times require me to own what I say.
Artist who did graphic design for money, now making art again and bringing in no money. Grandpa, Left-liberal politics, amateur telescope maker, pretty decent cook.
Artist who did graphic design for money, now making art again and bringing in no money. Grandpa, Left-liberal politics, amateur telescope maker, pretty decent cook.
Pinned
Fair notice: I do not follow back accounts that follow thousands, have hundreds of “follow backs,” but no posts or replies.
Considering how important its consequences were in ancient Greece, at least as dramatic works portray, there sure is a lot of hubris among the people bent out of shape because Helen of Troy isn’t Swedish or something.
February 3, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Considering how important its consequences were in ancient Greece, at least as dramatic works portray, there sure is a lot of hubris among the people bent out of shape because Helen of Troy isn’t Swedish or something.
However effective against the fascists it may be to have normie folks seeing photos of little kids suffering from the effects of tear gas, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO DEMONSTRATIONS WHERE THIS MAY HAPPEN.
February 3, 2026 at 4:27 AM
However effective against the fascists it may be to have normie folks seeing photos of little kids suffering from the effects of tear gas, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO DEMONSTRATIONS WHERE THIS MAY HAPPEN.
How you glean a couple thousand followers with 2 posts:
February 3, 2026 at 12:00 AM
How you glean a couple thousand followers with 2 posts:
Reposted by Michael Patterson
Fuck Josh Shapiro and his trimmer bullshit
Gov. Josh Shapiro called District Attorney Larry Krasner's comparison of ICE agents to Nazis "abhorrent." Krasner responded that Shapiro is "not meeting the moment."
Philly DA Larry Krasner says ‘don’t be a wimp’ after Gov. Josh Shapiro decried his comparison of ICE agents to Nazis
www.inquirer.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Fuck Josh Shapiro and his trimmer bullshit
Lone guy in MAGA hat standing by the side of the main drag in our little town, with two big flags on poles stuck into a snowbank, each with “JESUS” and “TRUMP” in big letters.This ex-Christian is trying to imagine (well, yeah, I know) how a “Christian” could have missed the Sermon on the Mount.
February 2, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Lone guy in MAGA hat standing by the side of the main drag in our little town, with two big flags on poles stuck into a snowbank, each with “JESUS” and “TRUMP” in big letters.This ex-Christian is trying to imagine (well, yeah, I know) how a “Christian” could have missed the Sermon on the Mount.
Reposted by Michael Patterson
THIS. Say it again louder for the people in the back.
February 2, 2026 at 7:46 PM
THIS. Say it again louder for the people in the back.
[thread]
Not everything meaningful about art or fashion maps to a single axis between ugly and beautiful, both of which are qualities that very much depend on the viewer’s subjective preferences anyway. I never thought of Picasso’s Guernica as either ugly or beautiful, but powerful it certainly is.
Not everything meaningful about art or fashion maps to a single axis between ugly and beautiful, both of which are qualities that very much depend on the viewer’s subjective preferences anyway. I never thought of Picasso’s Guernica as either ugly or beautiful, but powerful it certainly is.
It can be. Fashion, on the other hand, should be beautiful (or at least not ugly), even when it's also art.
Much like art doesn't have to be functional but furniture-as-art should be.
Much like art doesn't have to be functional but furniture-as-art should be.
February 2, 2026 at 4:15 PM
[thread]
Not everything meaningful about art or fashion maps to a single axis between ugly and beautiful, both of which are qualities that very much depend on the viewer’s subjective preferences anyway. I never thought of Picasso’s Guernica as either ugly or beautiful, but powerful it certainly is.
Not everything meaningful about art or fashion maps to a single axis between ugly and beautiful, both of which are qualities that very much depend on the viewer’s subjective preferences anyway. I never thought of Picasso’s Guernica as either ugly or beautiful, but powerful it certainly is.
No child that’s been tear-gassed by this regime, and few children their age who know about it, will grow up to trust the U.S. government.
February 1, 2026 at 3:10 AM
No child that’s been tear-gassed by this regime, and few children their age who know about it, will grow up to trust the U.S. government.
Reposted by Michael Patterson
Club soda is acidic. Ophthalmologists recommend water with baby shampoo in it, or plain water as an alternative.
February 1, 2026 at 2:53 AM
Club soda is acidic. Ophthalmologists recommend water with baby shampoo in it, or plain water as an alternative.
Not fond of rent-seekers myself, but what slice of that rectangular solid represents con artists, or fascists, or pedophiles, for that matter?
Wealth-creating billionaires aren't the problem. Rent-seekers of all stripes are.
February 1, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Not fond of rent-seekers myself, but what slice of that rectangular solid represents con artists, or fascists, or pedophiles, for that matter?
🔭Jim Daley continues to capture incredible solar prominence images, using his home-made coronagraph. Here are several as published on the Stellafane web site. Be sure to click each image to see it larger and read the captions.
stellafane.org/observing/as...
stellafane.org/observing/as...
Stellafane: Jim Daley's Astrophotos
Stellafane: Astrophotos of Jim Daley
stellafane.org
January 31, 2026 at 10:31 PM
🔭Jim Daley continues to capture incredible solar prominence images, using his home-made coronagraph. Here are several as published on the Stellafane web site. Be sure to click each image to see it larger and read the captions.
stellafane.org/observing/as...
stellafane.org/observing/as...
Reposted by Michael Patterson
we exist in Jean Baudrillard's own hyperreality, and people are still out here saying "performative" like it's bad
I really wish we could take some of the negative valence off of “performative” because performance is tremendously important right now especially
"In response to criticisms she's heard about the hat being 'performative,' Mashaal, the shop owner, said the thousands of dollars that have gone toward supporting their community speaks for itself."
January 31, 2026 at 4:45 PM
we exist in Jean Baudrillard's own hyperreality, and people are still out here saying "performative" like it's bad
That having had my shingles vaccine reduces my chance of dementia by nearly half—probably by avoiding my immune system’s inflammatory response to the disease—that’s just stunning. There are similar effects from other vaccines too. Seems it would be rational to get every shot you can just for this.
Who Suffers When Anti-Vax Noise Drives Vaccine Uptake Down?
Hint: it ain't just kids (though it certainly hurts children)
tomlevenson.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 4:00 PM
That having had my shingles vaccine reduces my chance of dementia by nearly half—probably by avoiding my immune system’s inflammatory response to the disease—that’s just stunning. There are similar effects from other vaccines too. Seems it would be rational to get every shot you can just for this.
(1960s)
Physics for Science Majors
Poetry in English
The American Transcendentalists
Intro to Philosophy
Stone Lithography
Physics for Science Majors
Poetry in English
The American Transcendentalists
Intro to Philosophy
Stone Lithography
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Leaders and Followers (Hitler, MLK, Gandhi, Henry VIII)
2. Imperialism and Colonialism
3. Histoire du Livre
4. History of Paris thru Art
5. Econ 11 Pass/Fail my senior year; absolutely killed the curve for everyone else.
1. Leaders and Followers (Hitler, MLK, Gandhi, Henry VIII)
2. Imperialism and Colonialism
3. Histoire du Livre
4. History of Paris thru Art
5. Econ 11 Pass/Fail my senior year; absolutely killed the curve for everyone else.
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
January 31, 2026 at 3:05 PM
(1960s)
Physics for Science Majors
Poetry in English
The American Transcendentalists
Intro to Philosophy
Stone Lithography
Physics for Science Majors
Poetry in English
The American Transcendentalists
Intro to Philosophy
Stone Lithography
Very odd but I’m old and I live in Vermont but I just caught myself fantasizing about moving to Minnesota.
January 30, 2026 at 6:28 AM
Very odd but I’m old and I live in Vermont but I just caught myself fantasizing about moving to Minnesota.
“in theater”
Somehow I haven’t seen anything about flag-draped coffins coming home from the war in Minnesota.
Somehow I haven’t seen anything about flag-draped coffins coming home from the war in Minnesota.
Q: Can you be specific about how many ICE and CBP agents are currently operating in the state?
HOMAN: 3,000. There's been some rotations. They've been in theater a long time. Day after day, can't eat in restaurants, people spin on you, blowing whistles at you. But my main focus now is draw down
HOMAN: 3,000. There's been some rotations. They've been in theater a long time. Day after day, can't eat in restaurants, people spin on you, blowing whistles at you. But my main focus now is draw down
January 29, 2026 at 3:24 PM
“in theater”
Somehow I haven’t seen anything about flag-draped coffins coming home from the war in Minnesota.
Somehow I haven’t seen anything about flag-draped coffins coming home from the war in Minnesota.
This.
Also, idly wondering how many ICE agents could pass the civics exam immigrant prospective citizens must pass.
Also, idly wondering how many ICE agents could pass the civics exam immigrant prospective citizens must pass.
Not every country has the ability to attract millions of decent, hard-working, law-abiding people and make citizens out of them. We do, and that's a super-power we MAY still have if we can recover quickly enough from this current mania. We outta use it.
January 28, 2026 at 4:20 PM
This.
Also, idly wondering how many ICE agents could pass the civics exam immigrant prospective citizens must pass.
Also, idly wondering how many ICE agents could pass the civics exam immigrant prospective citizens must pass.
Reposted by Michael Patterson
I'm legit unfollowing people who never use alt text.
You're literally typing on a text based app. So why are you making Canva images with little pithy quips and no alt text. I honestly don't understand it.
You're literally typing on a text based app. So why are you making Canva images with little pithy quips and no alt text. I honestly don't understand it.
January 28, 2026 at 2:05 PM
I'm legit unfollowing people who never use alt text.
You're literally typing on a text based app. So why are you making Canva images with little pithy quips and no alt text. I honestly don't understand it.
You're literally typing on a text based app. So why are you making Canva images with little pithy quips and no alt text. I honestly don't understand it.
Reposted by Michael Patterson
if you’re tired of users telling you to use alt text, JUST FUCKING DO IT. the app automatically detects text on mobile. it’s literally a copy/paste job. communication is a two-way street. some people don’t use their eyes for that. it’s not a big deal. don’t be a dick.
January 25, 2026 at 8:08 AM
if you’re tired of users telling you to use alt text, JUST FUCKING DO IT. the app automatically detects text on mobile. it’s literally a copy/paste job. communication is a two-way street. some people don’t use their eyes for that. it’s not a big deal. don’t be a dick.
So we have Noem pointing a finger at Miller, who’s pointing a finger at CPB. This may become actually entertaining.
January 27, 2026 at 10:46 PM
So we have Noem pointing a finger at Miller, who’s pointing a finger at CPB. This may become actually entertaining.
Reposted by Michael Patterson
The topline message in every one of these Wari Breiss harangues is "go ahead and quit, see if I care."
Like Bezos and the Washington Post, the idea has ALWAYS been to destroy the media outlets that rightwingers have hated for decades.
Like Bezos and the Washington Post, the idea has ALWAYS been to destroy the media outlets that rightwingers have hated for decades.
Part three of three, with Bari Weiss calling CBS News "the best capitalized media start-up in the world. We have the talent, energy, an mandate to transform CBS News..."
January 27, 2026 at 9:22 PM
The topline message in every one of these Wari Breiss harangues is "go ahead and quit, see if I care."
Like Bezos and the Washington Post, the idea has ALWAYS been to destroy the media outlets that rightwingers have hated for decades.
Like Bezos and the Washington Post, the idea has ALWAYS been to destroy the media outlets that rightwingers have hated for decades.
Reposted by Michael Patterson
This is amazing.
January 27, 2026 at 6:54 PM
This is amazing.
Tom, I’ll be happy to send you as many pictures of myself as you think you can use. It would be unearned, but I’d be honored to be featured in your database.
TOM HOMAN: “We’re going to create a database where those people that are arrested for interference, impeding and assault, we’re going to make them famous. We’re going to put their face on TV. We’re going to let their employers, in their neighborhoods, in their schools, know who these people are.”
Story: www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/u...
January 27, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Tom, I’ll be happy to send you as many pictures of myself as you think you can use. It would be unearned, but I’d be honored to be featured in your database.
Reposted by Michael Patterson
I had not previously thought of that as a source of conservative reluctance to pay for public goods, but all of a sudden many things I had found baffling made sense.
January 26, 2026 at 2:38 AM
I had not previously thought of that as a source of conservative reluctance to pay for public goods, but all of a sudden many things I had found baffling made sense.
