Skip Montanaro

@smontanaro

Vintage bike rider, book reader, retired software engineer, disappointed in political developments in the US.

1519 Siguiendo1002 Seguidores2069 Publicaciones

¿Es tu perfil?Reclámalo y smontanaro.dirty.social es tuyo.Reclamar perfil

At the top of my "Quiet Posters" feed. Maybe @crockett.house.gov is an infrequent poster, but I don't think I've ever seen a clip where she was quiet. Congresswoman, keep up the good work, loud wherever you think necessary.

Image of a Jasmine Crockett Bluesky post under the "Quiet Posters" tab.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Jul 12

(Truncated) alt text via Google Lens.

Other Deep South states may stake their own claims, but South Carolina is America's most conservative state and, as often as not, finds itself at the top or bottom of some lists of negative distinction. Indeed, South Carolinians who cringe at thought of being distinguished as worst in the nation in this or that category have been known to "Thank God for Mississippi." From a strictly constitutional-historical standpoint, however, South Carolina's legacy of firsts and lasts reads like a rap sheet: first to overturn a provincial government during the revolutionary period; last to abandon the Atlantic slave trade; first to call for nullifying the Constitution's federal authority; first to secede from the Union; last to abolish the white primary; first to litigate against the integration of public schools; first to challenge the Voting Rights Act. Whenever America finds itself at some social or political crossroads and in need of direction, perhaps the best thing to do is ask, "What would South Carolina do?" And then do the opposite.

History can be painful to revisit. But even the most selective of revisionists cannot soothe this discomfiting truth: For the past two centuries, the South has served as a regional brake against the civil, social, and po-litical advances in American history-and South Carolina has provided the lead foot on the pedal. From the revolutionary period through today's new federalism, this most rebellious of states from the nation's most rebellious region has consistently opposed, defied, or ignored the expectations and edicts of the rest of the Republic, and the state's belligerence, racism, misogyny, and violence have provided the key signposts along the route. Of the many democratic blessings to which Americans point proudly as proof that we merit the title "leader of the free world," most were achieved despite the opposition of southern conservatives and, in particular, recalcitrant South Carolinians. Such is the legacy-such is the "heritage"-o…

First to Secede, Last to Accede

South Carolina's Resistance to the Republic, 1780-Present

THOMAS F. SCHALLER

My constituents are highly alarmed at the large and rapid strides which this new government has taken towards despotism. They say it is big with political mischiefs, and pregnant with a greater variety of impending woes to the good people of the Southern States, especially South Carolina, than all the plagues supposed to issue from the poisonous box of Pandora.... They say they will resist against it; that they will not accept of it unless compelled by force of arms.

Delegate Patrick Dollard, before voting "nay" at South Carolina's convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution, May 20, 1788

To bring [desegregation] about, the federal government would set up a super-police force with the power to rove throughout the states and keep our people in constant fear of being sent to a federal jail unless we accepted the decrees turned out by a bunch of anti-Southern bureaucrats in Washington.

States' Rights Democratic Party presidential candidate Strom Thurmond, ABC Radio

broadcast, November 1, 1948

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Jul 7

Thanks for the letter. Alt text added.

Cities are for people

Back in 2012, I bought a bike for $50 at a garage sale. I'd just graduated from law school and had to start paying for public transit, so I thought a bike was the perfect cheat code for getting around the city for free. Back then, there were no bike lanes, and I battled rush hour drivers for one week before giving up on biking. For years, I got around via transit, walking and - eventually - the new technology of ride-share.

When I became a mother in 2020, my transportation needs changed. In 2021, on vacation on a car-free island, I rented a bike with a baby seat on the back, and it opened my eyes to a new way of getting around. I quickly bought a used bike with a baby seat. A few months later, I upgraded to an electric cargo bike. I started biking around my neighborhood for school drop-off and errands. Then I started riding my bike to work, taking Halsted Street from Lincoln Park to Bridgeport. I loved the freedom my bike gave me, but I also experienced many close calls with drivers in the same bike lane where Riley O'Neil recently lost his life.

A 2024 study sponsored by the city's Department of Transportation showed that Chicago experienced a 119% increase in biking citywide between fall 2019 and spring 2023, the highest growth rate among the 10 largest cities in the United States. In 2025, Chicagoans took 6.8 million trips on Divvy bikes. What is the city willing to do to continue grow-ing that number? Are our leaders willing to reimagine our streets as places for all kinds of transportation? Are they willing to carve out space for my son and his friends to ride safely in their neighborhoods?

I hope the answer is yes because cities are for people, and we're out here already.

Molly Fleck, Chicago

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Jun 26

It is amazing how quickly the trading world (at least here in the US) turns away from clean energy. I hold a bit of $ICLN in my portfolio and have watched it climb steadily. Once it seemed some sort of US/Iran deal was in the offing, though, it reversed course.

Chart of ICLN since Jan 1, 2026 showing the climb in value and subsequent fall as Trump's war on Iran ebbed and flowed.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· May 5

Sorry, paywalled: www.wsj.com/articles/the... I haven't read the article myself (not a subscriber). The key but is in the summary: "... parceling out their riches in smaller doses to children and grandchildren..."

The Number

$110 trillion

The net wealth of Americans who are baby boomers or older. Gen X, millennials and Gen Z aren't going to inherit that anytime soon, though. People are living longer, spending more on themselves and parceling out their riches in smaller doses to children and grandchildren. The so-called great wealth transfer people are anticipating is less "great" and more "late."

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Apr 29

Can someone explain this? I did nothing as far as I know. I viewed a post by this person, then moved on. Am I being blocked because I failed to upvote the post?

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Mar 28

Ready for #NoKings 3. I think my sign works on multiple levels. 1st, it's a sign remembering Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Mar 6

Helluva job there Donny Boy. #CrudeOil is up over 40% since you started your war of a whim. Keep going. #Iran should be able to purchase plenty of armaments with the extra money.

Plot from Google Finance showing recent closing prices for the front month of Crude Oil futures. The plot shows the price up 42.82% since the close on Feb 27 ($67.02 vs $90.76 as of about 21:00 UTC).

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Feb 21

The current state of the Trump administration:

Wile E Coyote has just run off the cliff, looking back where he came from but hasn't yet fallen.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Feb 5

Why is the @bsky.app built with software which tracks me? I thought y'all were the good guys in the white hats. This image is from the @duckduckgo.com app tracking protection to.

DuckDuckGo documenting 115 recent tracking attempts by Functional Software built into the Bluesky Android app.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Jan 29

Evanston and Chicago are on board.

Another ride poster for rides remembering Alex Pretti, this one starting at Mack's in Evanston IL, departing at 1:30.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Jan 25

For those of you who couldn't make it to the Loop, there's a vigil at Fountain Square in Evanston at 4pm.

1/25 @ 4pm, Fountain Square

Community Vigil
to honor the recent losses in
the Minneapolis community

Four people ATM in arm looking toward a musical staff in the background.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Jan 24

Here's another one in Pilsen tomorrow.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Jan 24

I'm aware of two, one at the Little Village Arch at 3pm today (kinda late–was holding a one-person protest here in Evanston), one at Ida B Wells and Michigan Ave tomorrow at 1pm. Flyers attached.

Protest poster: Emergency Action in response to another shooting by CBP.

From Chicago to Minneapolis
Stop ICE Terror
Sat 1/24 3PM Little Village Arch

!!! EMergency Protest !!!
Coalition Against the Trump Agenda
Chicago Says: ICE Out of Everywhere!
Stop the Killings!
Justice for all Murdered by ICE and CBP!

Banner with fist and butterfly: When we Fight We Win!
Cuando luchamos ¡Ganamos!

Sun 1.25 at 1PM | Ida B Wells & Michigan Ave

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Dec 2

A headline about Trump in the @nytimes.com which doesn't appear to have been written by the @nytpitchbot.bsky.social.

Screenshot of an article title from the New York Times which reads, "In a Tirade, Trump Calls Somalis 'Garbage' as ICE Prepared Crackdown"

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Nov 24

Post a movie where you are from (HT www.petersbilliards.com)

Poster advertising the movie "Uncle Buck." Uncle Buck (John Candy) outside the front door, his relatives inside.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Oct 31

I use the Brave browser on both my phone and laptop. Like many other companies Brave makes money displaying ads. You've got to wonder about some of their advertisers. Tiring Eric Trump's keynote certainly wouldn't get me to this conference.

Summaries of two Brave ads for the Blockchain Futurist Conference, one touting Eric Trump's appearance as an inducement to attend.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Oct 29

I think all we really need is a portal out of this Bizarro world.

Image of Bizzaro Superman

(from https://www.cbr.com/bizarro-different-superman-dc-comics/)

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Oct 18

No Kings signs seen at the Evanston IL No Kings protests today.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Oct 9

My son sent me this. I can't guarantee it was shot in Portland, but it sure seems plausible. Completely ridiculing the ICE cubes seems like a good way to respond.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Sep 18

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Sep 5

Get #ICE out of #Chicago! NorthShoreSaysNO.org View of the Church Street overpass over the Edens Expressway (I-94). The Edens is the likely commuting route for ICE Brown Shirts from Naval Station Great Lakes.

Signs over the Church/Edens overpass. One reads "STOP ICE CRUELTY" on poster boards. The other reads "ICE GO HOME!" with the organization website URL underneath it (NorthShoreSaysNO.org).

People displaying signs along Church Street at the Edens Expressway overpass. One reads "FUND HEALTHCARE not CAGES." The other reads "WE THE PEOPLE MEANS EVERYBODY."

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Sep 1

And in Chicago...

Refuse Fascism banner reading "Trump Must GO NOW!"; white background, green border.

Playing cards depicting Trump and a few cabinet members. Trump is on the "No Kings" card. RFK Jr is the joker, the "Secretary of potions and leeches." Pam Bondi is the Jack of Spades, AG (Absolute Grifter). Stephen Miller is on the Jack of Clubs, "Deputy <something> of Cruelty."

Banner showing Smokey the Bear, "Remember, Only You Can Prevent Fascism."

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Aug 11

Ukraine Bicycle Project ukrainebicycleproject.com

Front side of t-shirt reading, "Ukraine Bicycle Project, est 2000."

Back of t-shirt reading "Crafting transportation bicycles for service in Ukraine."

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Aug 11

Pony Shop, Evanston IL ponyshop.com/about/

Back side of t-shirt from the Pony Shop in Evanston IL, reading "We Stand With Ukraine."

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Jul 28

I think many people recognize it's difficult to keep clean. Also, if most bikes are black, are there really other obvious choices? Traditionally, most bikes had at least one contrasting accent color, providing obvious options for housing, bar tape, etc.

Dark blue Fuji The Finest bike with chrome panels and red accents. Medium blue handlebar tape and red cable housing offer further contrasting accent colors.

Medium blue Monti Special with white panels. Red bar tape, cable housing and tire straps provide accents.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Jul 16

Lily

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Jun 10

nokings.org white crown with a red "X" through it.

Skip Montanaro@smontanaro· Apr 21

Honestly, I think this was pretty much on everybody's Bingo card. Sort of like the free space in the middle of the card.