Victor Luftig
@vl1959.bsky.social
English professor, Democrat, Mets fan. Views expressed are my own and definitely not those of my employer or its discredited Board.
Reposted by Victor Luftig
To my mind, the speed of this search is the definition of *malfeasance.*
It was politics over the health and integrity of the university from beginning to end--from firing President Ryan to now.
The appointees have consistently put the desires of Trump and Youngkin over UVA.
It was politics over the health and integrity of the university from beginning to end--from firing President Ryan to now.
The appointees have consistently put the desires of Trump and Youngkin over UVA.
December 19, 2025 at 10:40 PM
To my mind, the speed of this search is the definition of *malfeasance.*
It was politics over the health and integrity of the university from beginning to end--from firing President Ryan to now.
The appointees have consistently put the desires of Trump and Youngkin over UVA.
It was politics over the health and integrity of the university from beginning to end--from firing President Ryan to now.
The appointees have consistently put the desires of Trump and Youngkin over UVA.
c-ville.com/city-using-a... The huge AI company running Charlottesville's garages says, "We may keep personal information for as long as necessary to achieve the purpose for which it was collected, our business needs, or any other purpose permitted by law." Not parking there.
City using AI-powered license plate readers to charge for garage parking - C-VILLE Weekly
Those who use public parking garages in downtown Charlottesville experienced big changes December 16 when the city moved to a system where access is controlled by new software. “With the new system, ...
c-ville.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:47 PM
c-ville.com/city-using-a... The huge AI company running Charlottesville's garages says, "We may keep personal information for as long as necessary to achieve the purpose for which it was collected, our business needs, or any other purpose permitted by law." Not parking there.
Reposted by Victor Luftig
Extraordinary courage from Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim, 43-year-old father of two, who bravely risked his life to save his neighbors celebrating Hanukkah.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
December 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Extraordinary courage from Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim, 43-year-old father of two, who bravely risked his life to save his neighbors celebrating Hanukkah.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
Praying for his full & speedy recovery.
And so deeply inspired by his example.
Reposted by Victor Luftig
I mentioned in my last post writing detention writing programmes but sometimes people find their own way.
This is in 'An Arbitrary Light Bulb' and was inspired by someone I worked with in a Liverpool drugs and homeless project.
This is in 'An Arbitrary Light Bulb' and was inspired by someone I worked with in a Liverpool drugs and homeless project.
December 14, 2025 at 8:11 AM
I mentioned in my last post writing detention writing programmes but sometimes people find their own way.
This is in 'An Arbitrary Light Bulb' and was inspired by someone I worked with in a Liverpool drugs and homeless project.
This is in 'An Arbitrary Light Bulb' and was inspired by someone I worked with in a Liverpool drugs and homeless project.
Here's some awful writing by @ncte.org , announcing an awful project paid for by big tech. Inviting ELA teachers to contribute to the destruction of their subject is craven and corrupt.
ncte.org/blog/2025/12...
“English language arts (ELA) classroom teachers will lead the creation of a scalable framework for responsible AI use within the discipline through a new initiative led by the National Council of Teachers of English, courtesy of a national grant from Google”
“English language arts (ELA) classroom teachers will lead the creation of a scalable framework for responsible AI use within the discipline through a new initiative led by the National Council of Teachers of English, courtesy of a national grant from Google”
December 11, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Here's some awful writing by @ncte.org , announcing an awful project paid for by big tech. Inviting ELA teachers to contribute to the destruction of their subject is craven and corrupt.
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/91395/...
One of the great winter poems...
One of the great winter poems...
Snow
The room was suddenly rich and the great bay-window was Spawning snow and pink roses against it Soundlessly collateral and incompatible: World is suddener than we fancy it. World is crazier and more ...
www.poetryfoundation.org
December 7, 2025 at 12:49 AM
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/91395/...
One of the great winter poems...
One of the great winter poems...
Reposted by Victor Luftig
One year Puccini posted Toscanini a Xmas panettone, forgetting that they'd fallen out again and fired off a telegram : “PANETTONE SENT BY MISTAKE -- PUCCINI!” He received another back almost as quickly: “PANETTONE EATEN BY MISTAKE -- TOSCANINI!”
Thanks Mark Pullinger for the reminder and the photo.
Thanks Mark Pullinger for the reminder and the photo.
December 6, 2025 at 1:29 PM
One year Puccini posted Toscanini a Xmas panettone, forgetting that they'd fallen out again and fired off a telegram : “PANETTONE SENT BY MISTAKE -- PUCCINI!” He received another back almost as quickly: “PANETTONE EATEN BY MISTAKE -- TOSCANINI!”
Thanks Mark Pullinger for the reminder and the photo.
Thanks Mark Pullinger for the reminder and the photo.
Heart-wrenching. Horrific.
December 5, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Heart-wrenching. Horrific.
Reposted by Victor Luftig
Any sign that Dems' leadership is preparing for post-DT times by cataloguing, Project 2025-style, all that must be done and undone, all that must be reassembled and dismantled, all who need to be platformed or prosecuted? If not, could @indivisible.org, @moveon.org, or some other entity do the work?
November 30, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Any sign that Dems' leadership is preparing for post-DT times by cataloguing, Project 2025-style, all that must be done and undone, all that must be reassembled and dismantled, all who need to be platformed or prosecuted? If not, could @indivisible.org, @moveon.org, or some other entity do the work?
Reposted by Victor Luftig
November 23, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Amazing numbers of ibises in Chincoteague
November 26, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Amazing numbers of ibises in Chincoteague
I don't know why I ever both to start watching highlights on ESPN. The constant commercials always make me give up.
November 24, 2025 at 2:16 AM
I don't know why I ever both to start watching highlights on ESPN. The constant commercials always make me give up.
The calls here for "virtual hearings" would seem to have a lot of potential--I wonder if it can become standard practice in invaded cities.
The part where they threatened to break a judge’s car windows should be a bigger story … they feel comfortable treating judges this way, which means they are being told that they can do literally anything to nearly everyone
#BREAKING: A student intern at Rhode Island Superior Court was briefly taken into custody by ICE this afternoon before a judge intervened, 12 News has learned. Story by @jusolyn.bsky.social and @timwhiteri.bsky.social: ⤵️
November 21, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The calls here for "virtual hearings" would seem to have a lot of potential--I wonder if it can become standard practice in invaded cities.
Thrilled to find @acolton.bsky.social 's book in my mailbox today!
November 20, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Thrilled to find @acolton.bsky.social 's book in my mailbox today!
Having spent more time in hospitals (including UVA Hospital) these past few years than I'd have opted for, I take great delight in this--great for the kids, for their parents, for the nurses, for all the staff. Days can get long there. Well done. news.virginia.edu/content/holy...
Holy Windex, Batman! Superheroes descend on UVA Health Children’s
Grime-fighting superheroes cleaned windows and surprised patients.
news.virginia.edu
November 15, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Having spent more time in hospitals (including UVA Hospital) these past few years than I'd have opted for, I take great delight in this--great for the kids, for their parents, for the nurses, for all the staff. Days can get long there. Well done. news.virginia.edu/content/holy...
Full letter here www.cbs19news.com/news/spanber...
Spanberger tells BOV to pause process to pick new UVA president
Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger says the University of Virginia should wait to pick a new president until after her inauguration in January.
www.cbs19news.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Full letter here www.cbs19news.com/news/spanber...
Reposted by Victor Luftig
It's driving me batty that nobody except Heather Cox Richardson, the Washington Monthly, and myself is covering Trump's race to sell off (for likely demolition) "the Sistine Chapel of the New Deal," w/ murals by Ben Shahn, Philip Guston, etc. I've furnish links below to help reporters get started.
November 10, 2025 at 4:54 PM
It's driving me batty that nobody except Heather Cox Richardson, the Washington Monthly, and myself is covering Trump's race to sell off (for likely demolition) "the Sistine Chapel of the New Deal," w/ murals by Ben Shahn, Philip Guston, etc. I've furnish links below to help reporters get started.
Now possible to get through to Warner's office but not Kaine's. I hope the latter's is being inundated with disappointed calls, though I feel sorry for the staffers who are having to hear all the anger. I'd urge sympathy for them.
Kaine and Warner's numbers both busy--I trust with callers demanding that Kaine resign once Spanberger is in and that Warner insist on Schumer's resignation as minority leader.
November 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Now possible to get through to Warner's office but not Kaine's. I hope the latter's is being inundated with disappointed calls, though I feel sorry for the staffers who are having to hear all the anger. I'd urge sympathy for them.
Kaine and Warner's numbers both busy--I trust with callers demanding that Kaine resign once Spanberger is in and that Warner insist on Schumer's resignation as minority leader.
November 10, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Kaine and Warner's numbers both busy--I trust with callers demanding that Kaine resign once Spanberger is in and that Warner insist on Schumer's resignation as minority leader.
More rather than less vital to donate to food banks
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
Trump Administration Demands States ‘Undo’ Work to Send Full Food Stamps
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
More rather than less vital to donate to food banks
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
The NYT has been part of my whole life, since when my father and I would, when I was 9, divvy it up over breakfast while listening to the paper's radio station, WQXR, so I wish this warning weren't so apt. But it is, and very well issued. lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The NYT has been part of my whole life, since when my father and I would, when I was 9, divvy it up over breakfast while listening to the paper's radio station, WQXR, so I wish this warning weren't so apt. But it is, and very well issued. lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Enjoying this www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
Aftab Pureval wins reelection as Cincinnati mayor, defeating JD Vance’s relative
Aftab Pureval won reelection as mayor of Cincinnati on Tuesday, defeating Cory Bowman, a Republican who is Vice President JD Vance’s half-brother.
www.pbs.org
November 5, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Enjoying this www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...