@samkeeper.bsky.social
talks about media
blogging and comics and queerness and communism
pfp by @BrushBandit.bsky.social
blogging and comics and queerness and communism
pfp by @BrushBandit.bsky.social
Pinned
Storming the Ivory Tower
A blog of esoteric media criticism, laying siege to the Ivory Tower of academia from the gutters of pop culture
www.stormingtheivorytower.com
Happy Trans Day of Visibility! I'm Samantha, and I've been blogging about media for a decade now. I focus on demystifying criticism through pop culture, so if concepts like death of the author leave you scratching your head, or you're looking to broaden your artistic horizons, check me out #tdov
I scrolled through a lot of comments to see if anyone was talking about it, but nope, no discussion afaict about what role local government had in approving this project, which idk I think that'd be MY first question--is this something the city council had the power to stop and didn't?
January 17, 2026 at 8:37 PM
I scrolled through a lot of comments to see if anyone was talking about it, but nope, no discussion afaict about what role local government had in approving this project, which idk I think that'd be MY first question--is this something the city council had the power to stop and didn't?
Reposted
build khrushchevkas and plattenbauen on mercer island. fuck it.
Mercer Island is already trying to shirk its requirements to densify in compliance with the statewide transit-oriented development bill.
At a meeting yesterday, the city discussed modifying its defined station area because it doesn't "correspond" with existing zoning...which is the whole point?
At a meeting yesterday, the city discussed modifying its defined station area because it doesn't "correspond" with existing zoning...which is the whole point?
January 17, 2026 at 6:22 PM
build khrushchevkas and plattenbauen on mercer island. fuck it.
Reposted
Statement regarding Seattle Social Housing Developer
January 15, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Statement regarding Seattle Social Housing Developer
I mean I'll vote strategically for a mayor who wants to make the city more like amsterdam! I'm a communist not an ascetic monk!
you have to start by accepting that I'm a communist because I believe in and desire communism and a lot of people respond with either "well you shouldn't want or believe that" or "ok but you REALLY want to live in Denmark? you can't have that either to be clear but that's what you're REALLY saying?"
January 16, 2026 at 9:06 PM
I mean I'll vote strategically for a mayor who wants to make the city more like amsterdam! I'm a communist not an ascetic monk!
I have no idea what to do with the adaptation of Woke Up As A Girl Syndrome
it feels like being really artistically and enthusiastically hate crimed
it feels like being really artistically and enthusiastically hate crimed
January 16, 2026 at 8:18 PM
I have no idea what to do with the adaptation of Woke Up As A Girl Syndrome
it feels like being really artistically and enthusiastically hate crimed
it feels like being really artistically and enthusiastically hate crimed
Reposted
I'll believe we have AGI when it can do the AI Box Experiment better than Eliezer Yudkowsky could (he was not very good at it)
which I guess means I'll believe it when I'm suddenly and mysteriously hired at the paperclip factory
which I guess means I'll believe it when I'm suddenly and mysteriously hired at the paperclip factory
January 16, 2026 at 4:14 AM
I'll believe we have AGI when it can do the AI Box Experiment better than Eliezer Yudkowsky could (he was not very good at it)
which I guess means I'll believe it when I'm suddenly and mysteriously hired at the paperclip factory
which I guess means I'll believe it when I'm suddenly and mysteriously hired at the paperclip factory
I'm tempted to write up an explanation of how I don't feel a strong pull to vote for a lot of Democrat candidates because they have a totally different set of political goals from me and in a lot of cases stridently oppose my goals
but it's so tautological anyone who agrees will be like "well yeah"
but it's so tautological anyone who agrees will be like "well yeah"
January 16, 2026 at 7:04 PM
I'm tempted to write up an explanation of how I don't feel a strong pull to vote for a lot of Democrat candidates because they have a totally different set of political goals from me and in a lot of cases stridently oppose my goals
but it's so tautological anyone who agrees will be like "well yeah"
but it's so tautological anyone who agrees will be like "well yeah"
I'll believe we have AGI when it can do the AI Box Experiment better than Eliezer Yudkowsky could (he was not very good at it)
which I guess means I'll believe it when I'm suddenly and mysteriously hired at the paperclip factory
which I guess means I'll believe it when I'm suddenly and mysteriously hired at the paperclip factory
January 16, 2026 at 4:14 AM
I'll believe we have AGI when it can do the AI Box Experiment better than Eliezer Yudkowsky could (he was not very good at it)
which I guess means I'll believe it when I'm suddenly and mysteriously hired at the paperclip factory
which I guess means I'll believe it when I'm suddenly and mysteriously hired at the paperclip factory
lol???? come on man????
January 16, 2026 at 3:39 AM
lol???? come on man????
Reposted
alright. lets test this out.
streaming some NSFW games on piczel! gonna do my favorite nsfw arcade game, PACHINKO SEXY REACTION (i promise it's worthwhile) and then gonna speedrun the metroidvania FLIPWITCH.
help me try this out! come watch!
piczel.tv/watch/Junipe...
streaming some NSFW games on piczel! gonna do my favorite nsfw arcade game, PACHINKO SEXY REACTION (i promise it's worthwhile) and then gonna speedrun the metroidvania FLIPWITCH.
help me try this out! come watch!
piczel.tv/watch/Junipe...
January 16, 2026 at 12:08 AM
alright. lets test this out.
streaming some NSFW games on piczel! gonna do my favorite nsfw arcade game, PACHINKO SEXY REACTION (i promise it's worthwhile) and then gonna speedrun the metroidvania FLIPWITCH.
help me try this out! come watch!
piczel.tv/watch/Junipe...
streaming some NSFW games on piczel! gonna do my favorite nsfw arcade game, PACHINKO SEXY REACTION (i promise it's worthwhile) and then gonna speedrun the metroidvania FLIPWITCH.
help me try this out! come watch!
piczel.tv/watch/Junipe...
Reposted
this website has a certain type of user in mind and you ain't them
January 15, 2026 at 9:12 PM
this website has a certain type of user in mind and you ain't them
Reposted
later today i finally fulfill my months long goal of streaming some NSFW games so that I can start speedrunning them
i have some long term goals about uh, making it easier to speedrun and celebrate NSFW games, so i hope you'll tune in
current plan is to try it at 4 pm on piczel.tv/watch/Junipe...
i have some long term goals about uh, making it easier to speedrun and celebrate NSFW games, so i hope you'll tune in
current plan is to try it at 4 pm on piczel.tv/watch/Junipe...
Junipertheory - Piczel.tv
Bimbo City Nights!
piczel.tv
January 15, 2026 at 8:27 PM
later today i finally fulfill my months long goal of streaming some NSFW games so that I can start speedrunning them
i have some long term goals about uh, making it easier to speedrun and celebrate NSFW games, so i hope you'll tune in
current plan is to try it at 4 pm on piczel.tv/watch/Junipe...
i have some long term goals about uh, making it easier to speedrun and celebrate NSFW games, so i hope you'll tune in
current plan is to try it at 4 pm on piczel.tv/watch/Junipe...
I do wish more leftists would leave twitter and come here, so that they could bully all the repulsive centrists off the website
January 15, 2026 at 1:18 AM
I do wish more leftists would leave twitter and come here, so that they could bully all the repulsive centrists off the website
"the problem was that 'defund the police' wasn't clear enough a slogan"
THE PROBLEM MOTHERFUCKER WAS WE DIDN'T DO IT
THE PROBLEM MOTHERFUCKER WAS WE DIDN'T DO IT
January 14, 2026 at 8:53 PM
"the problem was that 'defund the police' wasn't clear enough a slogan"
THE PROBLEM MOTHERFUCKER WAS WE DIDN'T DO IT
THE PROBLEM MOTHERFUCKER WAS WE DIDN'T DO IT
if people had to say "our platform does not allow sexual content" rather than using the euphemism "NSFW" I think it would be a lot more obviously ludicrous and right wing.
network tv allows sexual content for fuck's sake.
and if you mean *pornographic* you better say and define that too!
network tv allows sexual content for fuck's sake.
and if you mean *pornographic* you better say and define that too!
January 14, 2026 at 8:55 AM
if people had to say "our platform does not allow sexual content" rather than using the euphemism "NSFW" I think it would be a lot more obviously ludicrous and right wing.
network tv allows sexual content for fuck's sake.
and if you mean *pornographic* you better say and define that too!
network tv allows sexual content for fuck's sake.
and if you mean *pornographic* you better say and define that too!
a big patron had to cancel recently so if you've been thinking about supporting my patreon, now's a good time to jump on board. you can access most of my locked posts for just $2 www.patreon.com/c/Stormingth...
Get more from Sam Keeper and Storming the Ivory Tower on Patreon
creating Experimental Pop Culture Articles
www.patreon.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:37 AM
a big patron had to cancel recently so if you've been thinking about supporting my patreon, now's a good time to jump on board. you can access most of my locked posts for just $2 www.patreon.com/c/Stormingth...
Reposted
HEY WASHINGTON FURRIES
WANT TO GIVE FURAFFINITY YOUR CREDIT CARD INFO?
WANT TO SHOW ID FOR FUCKING *BLUESKY*???
CALL YOUR FUCKING REPS I SWEAR TO GOD
HB 2112 WILL FUCK YOU UP
app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/2112
app.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/
WANT TO GIVE FURAFFINITY YOUR CREDIT CARD INFO?
WANT TO SHOW ID FOR FUCKING *BLUESKY*???
CALL YOUR FUCKING REPS I SWEAR TO GOD
HB 2112 WILL FUCK YOU UP
app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/2112
app.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/
January 11, 2026 at 11:05 AM
HEY WASHINGTON FURRIES
WANT TO GIVE FURAFFINITY YOUR CREDIT CARD INFO?
WANT TO SHOW ID FOR FUCKING *BLUESKY*???
CALL YOUR FUCKING REPS I SWEAR TO GOD
HB 2112 WILL FUCK YOU UP
app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/2112
app.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/
WANT TO GIVE FURAFFINITY YOUR CREDIT CARD INFO?
WANT TO SHOW ID FOR FUCKING *BLUESKY*???
CALL YOUR FUCKING REPS I SWEAR TO GOD
HB 2112 WILL FUCK YOU UP
app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/2112
app.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/
Reposted
Because apparently the comment page doesn't link to the bill:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
PDF HERE: lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
Yes, it's just as bad as you think it is
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
PDF HERE: lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
Yes, it's just as bad as you think it is
HB 2112 Washington State Legislature
app.leg.wa.gov
January 11, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Because apparently the comment page doesn't link to the bill:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
PDF HERE: lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
Yes, it's just as bad as you think it is
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
PDF HERE: lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/202...
Yes, it's just as bad as you think it is
people act like this is the "politics website" and yet when I post about actual useful local politics stuff curiously the posts do way better on mastodon and tumblr 🤔
feels like people on here are "doing politics" the way someone cheering their team on from the stands is "playing baseball"
feels like people on here are "doing politics" the way someone cheering their team on from the stands is "playing baseball"
January 13, 2026 at 10:32 PM
people act like this is the "politics website" and yet when I post about actual useful local politics stuff curiously the posts do way better on mastodon and tumblr 🤔
feels like people on here are "doing politics" the way someone cheering their team on from the stands is "playing baseball"
feels like people on here are "doing politics" the way someone cheering their team on from the stands is "playing baseball"
Reposted
Just a reminder that for bills like this, the legislative website has tools to let you contact your representatives directly, track the bill via RSS, submit comments to hearings, and track the bill! you can plug bills in here: leg.wa.gov/bills-meetin... I'll link to the named bills below too
January 13, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Just a reminder that for bills like this, the legislative website has tools to let you contact your representatives directly, track the bill via RSS, submit comments to hearings, and track the bill! you can plug bills in here: leg.wa.gov/bills-meetin... I'll link to the named bills below too
Reposted
Big news on my mailing list today: I'm teaming up with Untethered Aeon @mollynoise.bsky.social to composing a bang'n soundtrack to go with The Thunder Perfect Mind: HWFG!
Follow the project here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/flo...
Follow the project here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/flo...
January 13, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Big news on my mailing list today: I'm teaming up with Untethered Aeon @mollynoise.bsky.social to composing a bang'n soundtrack to go with The Thunder Perfect Mind: HWFG!
Follow the project here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/flo...
Follow the project here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/flo...
Reposted
Dedicated collective action on all fronts is the ONLY reason this is able to come to light. Talk to your fellow cartoonists. Check in on your peers. Publishers will not save you. WE are the only ones who can save each other, but you HAVE to put in the work.
January 13, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Dedicated collective action on all fronts is the ONLY reason this is able to come to light. Talk to your fellow cartoonists. Check in on your peers. Publishers will not save you. WE are the only ones who can save each other, but you HAVE to put in the work.
Just a reminder that for bills like this, the legislative website has tools to let you contact your representatives directly, track the bill via RSS, submit comments to hearings, and track the bill! you can plug bills in here: leg.wa.gov/bills-meetin... I'll link to the named bills below too
January 13, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Just a reminder that for bills like this, the legislative website has tools to let you contact your representatives directly, track the bill via RSS, submit comments to hearings, and track the bill! you can plug bills in here: leg.wa.gov/bills-meetin... I'll link to the named bills below too
this is what I'm talking about, with liberals deciding their future vision isn't Utopian even though it'd require mass struggle, organizing, and upheaval, because unlike leftists the future they're struggling and upheaving for is just sorta mediocre.
This looks like an indictment. It is. But I see it as a reason for optimism.
We don’t need to be exceptional to transform Americans' lives. We need to become average. The solutions exist. We see them working. We have to choose them. And that means fixing our democracy so that it delivers.
We don’t need to be exceptional to transform Americans' lives. We need to become average. The solutions exist. We see them working. We have to choose them. And that means fixing our democracy so that it delivers.
January 12, 2026 at 10:25 PM
this is what I'm talking about, with liberals deciding their future vision isn't Utopian even though it'd require mass struggle, organizing, and upheaval, because unlike leftists the future they're struggling and upheaving for is just sorta mediocre.