Sky Marchini
@sky.skymarchini.net
economist, 🇨🇳, policy research. this is for display purposes only. 🧸 contact: robertmarchini1993 at gmail. 🏳️🌈 they/them. new jersey resident. https://skymarchini.net/
Reposted by Sky Marchini
once again these things boil down to “is your group a bohemian cultural identity” or “is your group actually trying to do things?” and the key tell is whether your activity centers on policing of in-group behavior or whether it centers on, again, tangible goals
February 3, 2026 at 6:50 PM
once again these things boil down to “is your group a bohemian cultural identity” or “is your group actually trying to do things?” and the key tell is whether your activity centers on policing of in-group behavior or whether it centers on, again, tangible goals
mhm, the totality of society revolves around political whims
February 3, 2026 at 6:19 PM
mhm, the totality of society revolves around political whims
It’s particularly salient for me because, as the ~only gun owner amongst my friends (wow, the blue haired #$SLUR owns guns, go ahead make your fucking joke), many of the more liberal ones have come to me with this exact question and it’s, not necessarily an easy conversation (nor should it be)
February 3, 2026 at 6:08 PM
It’s particularly salient for me because, as the ~only gun owner amongst my friends (wow, the blue haired #$SLUR owns guns, go ahead make your fucking joke), many of the more liberal ones have come to me with this exact question and it’s, not necessarily an easy conversation (nor should it be)
I do actually want to write something about firearms, particularly given the number of people - most of who should know better - talking about how “you need to get a gun to protect yourself from what’s coming” (wow, militias), but I’m not really in the mood rn, particularly not on my lunch break
February 3, 2026 at 6:07 PM
I do actually want to write something about firearms, particularly given the number of people - most of who should know better - talking about how “you need to get a gun to protect yourself from what’s coming” (wow, militias), but I’m not really in the mood rn, particularly not on my lunch break
the other thing i'd say, building on this, is that the PLA has never really been structured for the purpose of power projection, it's been structured to ensure the party has a grip on power and that there isn't a dispossessed underclass without a job, even if they end up burning $ on dum projects
hence why they are mostly good at industrial stuff and good-ish (with spend helping carry the day) on R&D, but the transition to a force capable of competent informatized (much less intelligentized) warfare remains..........mixed
the PLA is a very large, very bureaucratic organization whose main recruits are country boys and whose officer-class recruits mostly do business, not war. its everyday functions are politics and corruption, with wartime efficiency as a largely hypothetical future.
February 3, 2026 at 5:17 AM
the other thing i'd say, building on this, is that the PLA has never really been structured for the purpose of power projection, it's been structured to ensure the party has a grip on power and that there isn't a dispossessed underclass without a job, even if they end up burning $ on dum projects
me, a dumdum: the recent PLA purges could indicate several things, but In my view-
famous american academic: no this good thing actually, make chinese army stronk
famous american academic: no this good thing actually, make chinese army stronk
February 3, 2026 at 5:15 AM
me, a dumdum: the recent PLA purges could indicate several things, but In my view-
famous american academic: no this good thing actually, make chinese army stronk
famous american academic: no this good thing actually, make chinese army stronk
every time I think I'm out, I get pulled back in. one last job
February 3, 2026 at 4:15 AM
every time I think I'm out, I get pulled back in. one last job
Ringwood is in Passaic, but also yes
February 3, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Ringwood is in Passaic, but also yes
that threat model has quickly [i.e. in the last 6 weeks] shown itself to be woefully narrow, and I'm going to be significantly reassessing what I talk about online [publicly], among other things, until I have a better grasp on what the new model is. I think this is prudent, if unfortunate, to do.
February 3, 2026 at 2:47 AM
that threat model has quickly [i.e. in the last 6 weeks] shown itself to be woefully narrow, and I'm going to be significantly reassessing what I talk about online [publicly], among other things, until I have a better grasp on what the new model is. I think this is prudent, if unfortunate, to do.
third & finally, I've been [politically active] on the internet for well a >decade now. I'm also a blue haired they/them on the Bergen county NJ democratic committee. while I can protect myself, my threat model has historically been the folks to the northwest of me with SS tattoos.
February 3, 2026 at 2:47 AM
third & finally, I've been [politically active] on the internet for well a >decade now. I'm also a blue haired they/them on the Bergen county NJ democratic committee. while I can protect myself, my threat model has historically been the folks to the northwest of me with SS tattoos.
firstly, I'm not back, at least in the sense as I was a month ago. there is a truly liberating feeling to Log Off for a while, and it's one I'd like to hang onto for a while. Secondly, I also don't necessarily want to re-litigate what happened, at least not at this time.
February 3, 2026 at 2:47 AM
firstly, I'm not back, at least in the sense as I was a month ago. there is a truly liberating feeling to Log Off for a while, and it's one I'd like to hang onto for a while. Secondly, I also don't necessarily want to re-litigate what happened, at least not at this time.
lemme say a few things before we continue. I do have some longer thoughts that might end up on a substack/ghost post at some point, I have not made that decision yet.
February 3, 2026 at 2:47 AM
lemme say a few things before we continue. I do have some longer thoughts that might end up on a substack/ghost post at some point, I have not made that decision yet.