Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
@phoenixashes76.bsky.social
Gay and trans. MSLS, herder of library kids. I’ll read anything once. Proud cat dad. ko-fi.com/phoenixashes76
Pinned
We will see if I can commit to anything for a month
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Folks might not know a lot of people are getting *very* upset that the materials they request are not available in the libraries/archives they're requesting from.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
I wish a notice like this wasn't necessary.
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
Important notice: AI-generated archival references
www.icrc.org
December 8, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Folks might not know a lot of people are getting *very* upset that the materials they request are not available in the libraries/archives they're requesting from.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
Every time this kids have too many dolls thing pops up I think: the deal was I’ll never have healthcare, a house, student loans, or possibly food. But I can buy all the cheap junk I want w/o thinking too hard about sweatshops. No more cheap junk will only fly if we get the good stuff instead
December 10, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Every time this kids have too many dolls thing pops up I think: the deal was I’ll never have healthcare, a house, student loans, or possibly food. But I can buy all the cheap junk I want w/o thinking too hard about sweatshops. No more cheap junk will only fly if we get the good stuff instead
Idk if this is tenable. If it’s true that there’s net emigration, and that that causes high wages and more jobs, there’s a finite amount of time you can dick around before people expect to see money. And a bad econ, fault of the pres or not, doesn’t historically go well for the party in power
Trump: "For the first time in 50 years, we now have reverse migration, which means more jobs, better wages, and higher income for American citizen, not for illegal aliens."
December 10, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Idk if this is tenable. If it’s true that there’s net emigration, and that that causes high wages and more jobs, there’s a finite amount of time you can dick around before people expect to see money. And a bad econ, fault of the pres or not, doesn’t historically go well for the party in power
This is chilling.
No constitutional right to information is a truly terrifying legal concept.
December 9, 2025 at 11:56 PM
This is chilling.
(Im a Victorian Lit nerd, you are asking me to choose between my children)
Klara and the Sun
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Jane Eyre
The Great Gatsby
Nicholas Nickleby
Silas Marner
Dracula
Anne of Green Gables
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
All of Jeeves and Wooster
Klara and the Sun
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Jane Eyre
The Great Gatsby
Nicholas Nickleby
Silas Marner
Dracula
Anne of Green Gables
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
All of Jeeves and Wooster
It’s #BQT #BookQuestionTime again:
What are the three best novels you’ve read whose titles are (or contain) the names of one or more characters within those novels?
As always, please feel free to include cover images!
What are the three best novels you’ve read whose titles are (or contain) the names of one or more characters within those novels?
As always, please feel free to include cover images!
December 9, 2025 at 10:41 PM
(Im a Victorian Lit nerd, you are asking me to choose between my children)
Klara and the Sun
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Jane Eyre
The Great Gatsby
Nicholas Nickleby
Silas Marner
Dracula
Anne of Green Gables
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
All of Jeeves and Wooster
Klara and the Sun
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Jane Eyre
The Great Gatsby
Nicholas Nickleby
Silas Marner
Dracula
Anne of Green Gables
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
All of Jeeves and Wooster
Im reading The Power of the Dog right now and, being constitutionally averse to an antihero, its a slog. The writing, however? Is to die for. Like “the long dark barn where Phil sometimes sat thinking and doing things with his hands.” Is that just manual tinkering?
December 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Im reading The Power of the Dog right now and, being constitutionally averse to an antihero, its a slog. The writing, however? Is to die for. Like “the long dark barn where Phil sometimes sat thinking and doing things with his hands.” Is that just manual tinkering?
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
"Every mystery we solve brings me closer to the realization that the only monsters in this world are pathetic old men trying to steal as much money as they can."
portsherry.com/comic/a-shag...
portsherry.com/comic/a-shag...
December 9, 2025 at 3:21 PM
"Every mystery we solve brings me closer to the realization that the only monsters in this world are pathetic old men trying to steal as much money as they can."
portsherry.com/comic/a-shag...
portsherry.com/comic/a-shag...
Did not know the term pansexual started with such separate but equal vibes. No, you can’t be gay, lesbian, bi or straight like everybody else, you have to use the OTHER word that’s just for you and says absolutely nothing about your sexuality! Lou Sullivan would roll in his grave
December 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Did not know the term pansexual started with such separate but equal vibes. No, you can’t be gay, lesbian, bi or straight like everybody else, you have to use the OTHER word that’s just for you and says absolutely nothing about your sexuality! Lou Sullivan would roll in his grave
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
My fav tea cup broke & I’ve found something similar however at least one of the diamonds on one snowflake leaks! More of an ooze & not noticeable if I drink fast. Can it be fixed?
December 8, 2025 at 10:26 PM
My fav tea cup broke & I’ve found something similar however at least one of the diamonds on one snowflake leaks! More of an ooze & not noticeable if I drink fast. Can it be fixed?
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
People don't understand what is meant by "literacy" and the "literacy crisis".
Literacy isn't just not being able to physically read. Many people know how to see words and say words, which is basic reading. Literacy is being able to infer the correct information from what you read.
Literacy isn't just not being able to physically read. Many people know how to see words and say words, which is basic reading. Literacy is being able to infer the correct information from what you read.
October 8, 2025 at 7:13 PM
People don't understand what is meant by "literacy" and the "literacy crisis".
Literacy isn't just not being able to physically read. Many people know how to see words and say words, which is basic reading. Literacy is being able to infer the correct information from what you read.
Literacy isn't just not being able to physically read. Many people know how to see words and say words, which is basic reading. Literacy is being able to infer the correct information from what you read.
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
So festive!
December 8, 2025 at 8:53 PM
So festive!
I’ve got one about Pyrrhus that’s a real winner
I have a joke about Troy, and you'll laugh yourself hoarse
I have a real mother of a joke about Jocasta
December 8, 2025 at 6:02 AM
I’ve got one about Pyrrhus that’s a real winner
I’ve got one about Hephaestus but it’s kind of twisted
Don’t have a cow, I’ll tell you the one about Io
I have one about Danae that’s absolutely golden
December 8, 2025 at 6:01 AM
I’ve got one about Hephaestus but it’s kind of twisted
I have one about Danae that’s absolutely golden
I have a joke about Troy, and you'll laugh yourself hoarse
I have a real mother of a joke about Jocasta
December 8, 2025 at 4:32 AM
I have one about Danae that’s absolutely golden
I have a real mother of a joke about Jocasta
I tried to make a joke about Eurydice, but, looking back, it was bad.
I tried to make a joke about Ulysses but I just couldn't bring it home
December 8, 2025 at 4:20 AM
I have a real mother of a joke about Jocasta
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
I just heard someone order a pizza and ask for it “medium well” and I was not aware that we used those words in that context
December 8, 2025 at 3:10 AM
I just heard someone order a pizza and ask for it “medium well” and I was not aware that we used those words in that context
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Every. Fucking. Line. Of Prufrock.
I memorized it in college and you would be surprised at how often someone will say a word or start a sentence that triggers a line from that poem. This is my curse.
I memorized it in college and you would be surprised at how often someone will say a word or start a sentence that triggers a line from that poem. This is my curse.
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 8, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Every. Fucking. Line. Of Prufrock.
I memorized it in college and you would be surprised at how often someone will say a word or start a sentence that triggers a line from that poem. This is my curse.
I memorized it in college and you would be surprised at how often someone will say a word or start a sentence that triggers a line from that poem. This is my curse.
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Good thread but asking if Calley "was a war criminal or a scapegoat" is a false dichotomy. Calley was indubitably a war criminal, he may also have been a scapegoat - the lowest ranking officer the military could reasonably sacrifice for the horrors at My Lai.
⚠️WOKE CONTENT⚠️
🧵 To put into perspective the war crimes committed by Sec. Pete Hegseth, we have to go back to Vietnam, 1968. One of the most horrific war crimes in history was committed. (cont)
#ProudBlue
#ResistanceRoots
#USDemocracy
#Voices4Victory
www.firstpost.com/explainers/h...
🧵 To put into perspective the war crimes committed by Sec. Pete Hegseth, we have to go back to Vietnam, 1968. One of the most horrific war crimes in history was committed. (cont)
#ProudBlue
#ResistanceRoots
#USDemocracy
#Voices4Victory
www.firstpost.com/explainers/h...
December 8, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Good thread but asking if Calley "was a war criminal or a scapegoat" is a false dichotomy. Calley was indubitably a war criminal, he may also have been a scapegoat - the lowest ranking officer the military could reasonably sacrifice for the horrors at My Lai.
I’ve been putting this off but I’ve been Linux-curious for a while now and *gestures at Windows* the time has come. So if, as I research next steps, anybody has words of wisdom or advice, they would be very welcome
December 8, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I’ve been putting this off but I’ve been Linux-curious for a while now and *gestures at Windows* the time has come. So if, as I research next steps, anybody has words of wisdom or advice, they would be very welcome
When I was a kid, after a particularly outre stunt, my mom* would say “first time funny, second time silly, third time a spanking”** and Newsom has blown right past that threshold
*pretty sure she cribbed it from the Ramona books
**yes I know, but we do call electoral defeats drubbings, yes?
*pretty sure she cribbed it from the Ramona books
**yes I know, but we do call electoral defeats drubbings, yes?
December 7, 2025 at 10:44 PM
When I was a kid, after a particularly outre stunt, my mom* would say “first time funny, second time silly, third time a spanking”** and Newsom has blown right past that threshold
*pretty sure she cribbed it from the Ramona books
**yes I know, but we do call electoral defeats drubbings, yes?
*pretty sure she cribbed it from the Ramona books
**yes I know, but we do call electoral defeats drubbings, yes?
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Brenda Clark and whoever else has ownership of the FRANKLIN character should ***sue the shit** out of Don Jr. and Pete Hegseth for Pepe-hijacking and doing damage to their intellectual property. The same thing that happened to the Pepe guy is precedent; they made a movie about it.
December 7, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Brenda Clark and whoever else has ownership of the FRANKLIN character should ***sue the shit** out of Don Jr. and Pete Hegseth for Pepe-hijacking and doing damage to their intellectual property. The same thing that happened to the Pepe guy is precedent; they made a movie about it.
Reposted by Ben Freeman 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Me: Ah, cats
Me: So graceful, so majestic
Fiasco: *hits the window full force, topples off the cat tree onto the floor like a sack of potatoes*
Me:
Me:
Me: You all right there buddy
Me: So graceful, so majestic
Fiasco: *hits the window full force, topples off the cat tree onto the floor like a sack of potatoes*
Me:
Me:
Me: You all right there buddy
December 7, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Me: Ah, cats
Me: So graceful, so majestic
Fiasco: *hits the window full force, topples off the cat tree onto the floor like a sack of potatoes*
Me:
Me:
Me: You all right there buddy
Me: So graceful, so majestic
Fiasco: *hits the window full force, topples off the cat tree onto the floor like a sack of potatoes*
Me:
Me:
Me: You all right there buddy
I can’t be the first to say this but those pieces are always “men are lonely because women won’t date them and they don’t have guy friends” so it really seems like a straight men’s problem glossed over by “men are lonely”
I'm starting to wonder how much "the male loneliness epidemic" is just straight and bisexual women identifying low-effort, mean, and incompetent men and choosing not to date, marry, and tolerate them anymore
December 7, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I can’t be the first to say this but those pieces are always “men are lonely because women won’t date them and they don’t have guy friends” so it really seems like a straight men’s problem glossed over by “men are lonely”
As a children’s librarian, I think this ace team needs to also study the effect of a story hour on rate of contagion because boy howdy I tell you what
my nephew's ability to attract every non lethal virus that ever affects humans needs to be studied for science
December 7, 2025 at 4:16 PM
As a children’s librarian, I think this ace team needs to also study the effect of a story hour on rate of contagion because boy howdy I tell you what