Michael
@unprovoked.net
Married cat person, bureaucrat, union steward and board member, longtime listener. Previously: bookseller, roller derby official, machine operator, broadcaster, pizza guy, fry cook, and dog walker. Most of the time I just stare at the sky. #LNK #1U
Reposted by Michael
I understand OPs frustrations here, and I think it reveals one of the prevailing debates around American higher education: is the university a center of knowledge production for its own sake, or a job-training center for a specific profession?
If you are providing me with an education that is low utility in the world then it’s a disservice. My composition class spent four weeks on poetry. I’m sorry, but that only would’ve been useful if I wanted to be a poet. I don’t need to know iambic pentameter in order to be a victim advocate.
December 9, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I understand OPs frustrations here, and I think it reveals one of the prevailing debates around American higher education: is the university a center of knowledge production for its own sake, or a job-training center for a specific profession?
A coworker and I found a typo in the state administrative code ("regs"), so I'm nominating us for a No-Prize.
December 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
A coworker and I found a typo in the state administrative code ("regs"), so I'm nominating us for a No-Prize.
A couple days ago, before sunrise, I was in bed asleep on my side and our elderly cat walked onto my shoulder and – no joke – shouted into my ear.
Do cats meow more at men than they do women?
A study from a research team suggests that many cats have concluded that men don’t always listen, and adjusted their behavior accordingly.
No paywall 🐈
A study from a research team suggests that many cats have concluded that men don’t always listen, and adjusted their behavior accordingly.
No paywall 🐈
To Get a Man’s Attention, Meow Harder
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
A couple days ago, before sunrise, I was in bed asleep on my side and our elderly cat walked onto my shoulder and – no joke – shouted into my ear.
Irréversible (2002)
Never mind movies you’ve watched multiple times, name a movie you’ve watched once and would never watch again.
December 9, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Irréversible (2002)
I hadn't realized that today was the day, but now I understand why there were cars full of youths whooping it up and down our street, some leaning out their windows and waving revolution flags. Good on them. www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Syria marks one year since Assad was toppled
Syrians marked the first anniversary of the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad and his iron-fisted rule on Monday with jubilant celebrations in major cities, as the fractured nation struggles to find stabil...
www.reuters.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:59 AM
I hadn't realized that today was the day, but now I understand why there were cars full of youths whooping it up and down our street, some leaning out their windows and waving revolution flags. Good on them. www.reuters.com/world/middle...
One more: The Invisibles for the new millennium and let Afua Richardson cook.
Captain Carrot (and his Amazing Zoo Crew). @thejillthompson.bsky.social.
Okay, you get to write ONE dream comic mini-series, featuring characters you did not create.
What character would you pick, and who would draw it?
What character would you pick, and who would draw it?
December 8, 2025 at 7:50 PM
One more: The Invisibles for the new millennium and let Afua Richardson cook.
Captain Carrot (and his Amazing Zoo Crew). @thejillthompson.bsky.social.
Okay, you get to write ONE dream comic mini-series, featuring characters you did not create.
What character would you pick, and who would draw it?
What character would you pick, and who would draw it?
December 8, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Captain Carrot (and his Amazing Zoo Crew). @thejillthompson.bsky.social.
Reposted by Michael
business leaders in our state have been asking young educated adults why they're leaving for decades now and every single time the answer is always that republican policies are hostile to those who want better jobs, opportunities, recreation, and desire for diversity and belonging
BRAIN DRAIN? Better jobs, opportunities, recreation and desire for diversity and belonging. Those were top reasons an Omaha audience gave for why talented young people they know left Nebraska.
From Cindy Gonzalez:
nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/12/08/b...
From Cindy Gonzalez:
nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/12/08/b...
‘Brain drain’ alarm escalates: Omaha and business leaders flag job lag • Nebraska Examiner
Muscle is growing behind Nebraska's "brain drain" attack as multiple Omaha and business leaders flag lag in job and wage growth.
nebraskaexaminer.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:25 PM
business leaders in our state have been asking young educated adults why they're leaving for decades now and every single time the answer is always that republican policies are hostile to those who want better jobs, opportunities, recreation, and desire for diversity and belonging
Reposted by Michael
RT IF YOU LOVE UNIONS! ❤️🔥
It's day twenty-six of our national ULP strike. Our striking baristas in Hopewell, NJ have the best signs 🥰
It's day twenty-six of our national ULP strike. Our striking baristas in Hopewell, NJ have the best signs 🥰
December 8, 2025 at 2:25 PM
RT IF YOU LOVE UNIONS! ❤️🔥
It's day twenty-six of our national ULP strike. Our striking baristas in Hopewell, NJ have the best signs 🥰
It's day twenty-six of our national ULP strike. Our striking baristas in Hopewell, NJ have the best signs 🥰
Scrooged (1988)
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Children of Men (2006)
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Children of Men (2006)
Christmas movie watchlist… What are we missing? 🎬
🍭 Elf
👨🏻🏫 The Holdovers
👒 Little Women
😱 Home Alone
🛋️ The Apartment
🦞 Love Actually
💚 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
🦄 Step Brothers
🦸🏼♂️ Jingle All the Way
🎅🏼 Klaus
🧣 The Holiday
🕷️ Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
🔫 Die Hard
🐩 Edward Scissorhands
🍭 Elf
👨🏻🏫 The Holdovers
👒 Little Women
😱 Home Alone
🛋️ The Apartment
🦞 Love Actually
💚 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
🦄 Step Brothers
🦸🏼♂️ Jingle All the Way
🎅🏼 Klaus
🧣 The Holiday
🕷️ Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
🔫 Die Hard
🐩 Edward Scissorhands
December 8, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Scrooged (1988)
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Children of Men (2006)
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Children of Men (2006)
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again? Hospital corners.
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again?
TTY relay service, in both directions. I was an absolute star.
TTY relay service, in both directions. I was an absolute star.
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again?
In the summer of ‘88, I had a job where I installed cell phones into cars. No one has needed that skill in over 30 years.
In the summer of ‘88, I had a job where I installed cell phones into cars. No one has needed that skill in over 30 years.
December 8, 2025 at 5:38 AM
What skill did you master that you will never, ever use again? Hospital corners.
Saw Spike Lee in conversation tonight, so that was pretty cool.
December 8, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Saw Spike Lee in conversation tonight, so that was pretty cool.
"Maybe the only useful fiction, if we're talking about politics, is about the citizen, the person who chooses his leader. A fiction that examines and confronts the society that has put power into the hands of would-be dictators." (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/s...
Diego Luna: Our Reality Has Become Reality TV
www.nytimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
"Maybe the only useful fiction, if we're talking about politics, is about the citizen, the person who chooses his leader. A fiction that examines and confronts the society that has put power into the hands of would-be dictators." (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/s...
"The scammers seem to be trying to add to an existing trove of hacked information." Yeah. (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/b...
Medicare Scammers Are Calling Seniors 50 Times a Day, Trying to Trap Them
www.nytimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:57 PM
"The scammers seem to be trying to add to an existing trove of hacked information." Yeah. (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/b...
A sensible solution for desperate times.
Clay Farris Naff, a science writer and former executive director of Lincoln Literacy, proposes furloughing NU administrators for several months a year to close the budget gap.
December 5, 2025 at 4:37 PM
A sensible solution for desperate times.
I hope the jazz funeral procession from Wednesday is circling the Varner Hall parking lot today.
More than 110 people have signed in to speak at today's University of Nebraska Board of Regents' meeting.
Most of them are faculty, including those from four academic programs that have been proposed for cuts.
It's going to be a long day.
Most of them are faculty, including those from four academic programs that have been proposed for cuts.
It's going to be a long day.
December 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I hope the jazz funeral procession from Wednesday is circling the Varner Hall parking lot today.
Someone in my quad dunked themselves in a whole Bath and Body Works store before coming to the office. The air itself smells and tastes like vanilla Play-Doh.
December 5, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Someone in my quad dunked themselves in a whole Bath and Body Works store before coming to the office. The air itself smells and tastes like vanilla Play-Doh.
Reposted by Michael
“union-busting like it’s 1925.”
Two Dozen New Yorker Staffers Crash Netflix Doc Screening to Protest “Union-Busting” at Condé
The event at New York’s Paris Theater featured the magazine’s top editor, David Remnick, and filmmakers.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:32 PM
“union-busting like it’s 1925.”
Reposted by Michael
I badly need to not do a single thing for one solid day
December 4, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I badly need to not do a single thing for one solid day
This isn't "related to Department business" so I'm going ahead with calling that man a Hall of Fame piss baby. journalstar.com/news/local/g...
Pillen’s private Capitol tree lighting triggers backlash over public tradition
Gov. Jim Pillen's spokesperson said in a statement the move was to ensure the event would be safe and secure for the "many families and small children" who attend.
journalstar.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:54 PM
This isn't "related to Department business" so I'm going ahead with calling that man a Hall of Fame piss baby. journalstar.com/news/local/g...
Reposted by Michael
One of my favorite bookstores is Women and Children First in Chicago. They always offer a great holiday guide and this year is no different: simplebooklet.com/womenchildre...
Women & Children First Gift Guide 2025
Women & Children First Gift Guide 2025
simplebooklet.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:51 PM
One of my favorite bookstores is Women and Children First in Chicago. They always offer a great holiday guide and this year is no different: simplebooklet.com/womenchildre...
Reposted by Michael
We need every representative—Republican or Democrat—who says they support working people to vote for the Protect America’s Workforce Act.
Tell Congress: restore federal workers’ union rights now! https://act.aflcio.org/call_campaigns/pass-pawa-house/
Tell Congress: restore federal workers’ union rights now! https://act.aflcio.org/call_campaigns/pass-pawa-house/
December 1, 2025 at 7:29 PM
We need every representative—Republican or Democrat—who says they support working people to vote for the Protect America’s Workforce Act.
Tell Congress: restore federal workers’ union rights now! https://act.aflcio.org/call_campaigns/pass-pawa-house/
Tell Congress: restore federal workers’ union rights now! https://act.aflcio.org/call_campaigns/pass-pawa-house/
Reposted by Michael
Dec 3 | Online: "Fighting Back 103: Black Gay Men and HIV/AIDS," a virtual talk presented by the American LGBTQ+ Museum and the New York City AIDS Memorial. Speakers: Phill Wilson and Kevin McGruder. FREE, starting at 6 PM ET. RSVP: americanlgbtqmuseum.org/event/fighti... #LGBTQIA #WorldAIDSDay #NYC
December 1, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Dec 3 | Online: "Fighting Back 103: Black Gay Men and HIV/AIDS," a virtual talk presented by the American LGBTQ+ Museum and the New York City AIDS Memorial. Speakers: Phill Wilson and Kevin McGruder. FREE, starting at 6 PM ET. RSVP: americanlgbtqmuseum.org/event/fighti... #LGBTQIA #WorldAIDSDay #NYC
Reposted by Michael
BREAKING: According to a recent investigation by NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Starbucks illegally violated workers' protection laws in NYC 500,000 times since 2021. Over $35.5 million will be paid in restitution to Starbucks workers!
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...
Starbucks to pay $35M to NYC workers after city alleges years of abuses
The city says about 15,000 employees will get paid $50 for each week worked over a three-year period. For some workers, that's thousands of dollars.
gothamist.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
BREAKING: According to a recent investigation by NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Starbucks illegally violated workers' protection laws in NYC 500,000 times since 2021. Over $35.5 million will be paid in restitution to Starbucks workers!
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...