Andy Karlson

@andykarlson.bsky.social

8566 Followers 943 Following

Husband, father of 3, UU minister, hospital chaplain, dedicated amateur film photographer (unless otherwise noted, photos taken with my Google Pixel 7 Pro), opinions my own. "I am at home with the me. I am rooted in the me who is on this adventure."

"By inviting us into an enchanted Secondary World, fantasy can help us to see things in the Primary World "as we are (or were) meant to see them (67). Fantasy can help us regain "a clear view" of the world as, well, enchanted: full of living, wondrous Others who exist entirely apart from us: Creative fantasy, because it is mainly trying to do something else (make something new), may open your hoard and let all the locked things fly away like cage-birds. The gems all turn into flowers or flames, and you will be warned that all you had (or knew) was dangerous and potent, not really effectively chained, free and wild; no more yours than they were you. (68) Elsewhere, Tolkien calls this the "love of Faery [...] a relationship towards all things, animate and inanimate, which includes love and respect, and removes or modifies the spirit of possession and domination" (Smith 131). We are called to "love and respect" the Others with whom we share the world, both human and nonhuman, "animate and inanimate," precisely on account of their Otherness. The domination of other will is the cardinal sin in Tolkien's legendarium, from the primeval fall of the Luciferian angel Melkor in The Silmarillion right on down to the all-corrupting One Ring in The Lord of the Rings. Fantasy is meant, in part, to convert us away from the twisted ethic of dominion. Nothing could be further from fascist projects of ideological supremacy, militaristic expansion, and genocidal violence; for the primary-world realization of far-right fantasies is contingent upon the eradication of difference and prostration before the bloody altar of racism, sexism, queerphobia, and imperialism (Caplan 2019, 14-17; Tillich 1957, 11-12)."
"In his seminal book A Secular Age (2007), the philosopher Charles Taylor lays out a history of the disenchantment of the world in modernity. According to Taylor, the nonmodern enchanted world is charged with spirits and nonhuman intelligences (2007, 25-26): "all that exists, lives" (Sahlins 2022, 77; cf. Kimmerer 2013, 198-201; Rosegrant 2022, 9; Saler 2012, 8). The self who navigates this inspirited world is porous, vulnerable to influence by nonhuman Others for good and for ill (Taylor 2007, 38). This porous self is defined in the context of a communal and cosmic order of which it is one small, interlocking part, incarnate and embedded in geography, ecology, and society (147-153; cf. Veldman 1994, 17). In light of this holism, meaning is not solely self-generated; it is also "out there" for us to encounter in the world, often in the form of an overarching narrative or narratives that lend purpose and direction to human life (Taylor 2007, 33-34)."
Bill Plympton frame of animated cartoon of one man in a suit punching another in the face comically
A page from Dixon's After Man, depicting future humanoids that have evolved into a host and parasite set of species. A large doughy-looking human-like creature is shown with four much smaller creatures, whose limbs are long and spidery, with bare skin fronts and hairy backs - they cling to the larger creature and drink its blood for nourishment. Text reads: "2 MILLION YEARS HENCE HOST/PARASITE Penarius pinguis Nananthropus parasitus The islanders have evolved parasitic feeding habits that rely on the tundra-dweller's metabolic need to produce surplus fat. In this way, the obese tundra-dwellers have found an ecological niche that allows them to exist now that the tundra plains have disappeared and the mountain tribes failed. Gone is the tundra-dweller's thick fur and winter colouring, the need to lose heat means that Penarius pinguis requires direct air to skin contact."
Byline for Roger Knifeback, "One of New York City's savviest politics-knowers"
Still image from Cabin Boy - Chris Elliott's character stands in front of a cave, with text "THESE PIPES ARE CLEAN"
A pair of ruby throated hummingbirds interacting in super slomo at a feeder
A female ruby-throated hummingbird chases a yellowjacket away from a feeder, as seen from behind the living room glass.
Emoji-style image of a gigantic thoughtful face with three nested chin-propping hands
Pen and colored pencil sketch of a young tree in front of a lake
Screenshot showing an unexpected 30+ Bluesky notifications
The words, "Ai•is•for•hacks•and Fascists " in the TMNT font
Simpsons frame showing a soccer referee in front of a scoreboard with the words, "And ties? You bet!"
Interior of a public bus, whose windows are covered over by an adhesive advertisement that largely obscures the view.
Ink brush drawing of a blooming day lily in a sketchbook.
Photo of our games and crafts area, featuring a clear tub filled with an unholy admixture of thousands of different colored perler beads
Two panels of DC comics featuring Darkseid talking to Desaad: "WHILE I WOULD BE THE MASTER OF ALL THAT EXISTS!WHAT IS THE CITY'S FEAR QUOTIENT, NOW, DESAAD!" "SPIRALLING TO A LOVELY HIGH PITCH, O DARKSEID! I CAN FEEL THEM--LIKE CRASHING SURF--WONDERFUL WAVES OF RAW FEAR!" "MANTIS IS INSPIRING GREAT RESULTS! HE'LL SHAKE EVERY MIND IN THAT CITY TO ITS VERY ROOTS!ESPECIALLY THE MIND WE SEEK TO CONTACT--THE ONE THAT MUST BE MADE TO YIELD ITS SECRET--THE ANTI-LIFE EQUATION!"
Cover of graphic novel Mamo, showing the two main characters (and cat familiar) climbing a tree.
View looking between portions of the brown brick building of UW Health University Hospital, with the nursing school building beyond, then some trees and flood lights for the athletic fields, then nothing but beige haze.
Poster for the John Cusack/Tim Robbins movie, Tapeheads.
Alex Captain beefheart record, rendered in the TMNT Logo font
My hand displaying the cover of sci-fi/thriller graphic novel Arca.
The character Lena Lamont, from Singin' in the Rain
Menger Sponge
Bleary and increasingly grizzled bearded white guy selfie
Mural on the side wall of Madison's Strictly Discs record store, of John Prine's lyrics, "I wish you love and happiness."
A bottle containing orange hot sauce with a logo of a wingéd bison, and the words, "Buffalo with comfortable heat."
A big pink muscle arm emoji surrounded by hearts
Three kids reading on couches in a coffeeshop under a mural version of one of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel sibyls
A member of the band The Residents wearing an iconic eyeball mask with tophat
A 13 year old with long hair stands in a hospital ED room with his arm flagrantly in a sling.
Pencil sketch of the wooded far side of Lake Wingra, scattered clouds in the sky
Jeffrey Epstein financier meme guy, but text reads: "Jonathon Lucroy, The former Milwaukee brewer?"
A sandhill crane family, with two extremely awkward light-brown colts, are grubbing for worms at the side of a bike path
View down a residential street through pouring rain
My hand holding the graphic novel, Family Style
21:13 Π 40 marins Tor your support: A Transgender Law Center 21:13 to me Transgender Law Center Receipt Date Time: 6/30/2026 7:13:19 PM Thank you for supporting Transgender Law Center! Transgender Law Center PO Box 70976 Oakland, CA 94612 Email: giving@transgenderlawcenter.org Phone: 510.587.9696 This payment will appear as "TI.C" on your bank statement. We recommend that you print a copy of this receipt for comparison with your bank statement, as well as for your personal records. No goods or services were provided in consideration of this contribution. Your gift is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Transgender Law Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our Federal Tax ID is 05-0544006. Details Item: Donation Price: $50.00 Tax Deductible: $50.00 Quantity: 1 Total: $50.00 Total Charge: $50.00 : W Reply Forward
Screenshot of "@polreader.bsky.social", apparently a #TeamPete superfan
"One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am-a reluctant enthusiast...a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it's still here... Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards." -Edward Abbey, "Joy, Shipmates, Joy!"
Sketchbook page doodle of various concentric circles of different sizes
Emoji style image of a three-handed skeptical face
"One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am-a reluctant enthusiast...a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it's still here... Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards." -Edward Abbey, "Joy, Shipmates, Joy!"
The words "I HOPE THIS EMAIL FINDS YOU WELL" in the style of the matrix logo
Stage of American Players Theater in Spring Green, WI, waiting for the beginning of Act II of As You Like It
Screenshot showing current vote totals for Cake's album Comfort Eagle vs Ben Folds' Rockin' the Suburbs: the pie chart is evenly split across the middle, with the top half red and the bottom half blue, 84 votes in so far and it's a perfect 50/50 tie
4 × 3 June 24, 2026 136 points • No mistakes 🌟🟦🟦 🌟🟩🟩 🌟🟨🟨 🟪🌟🟪 https://hankgreen.com/fourbythree
Kerr Avon@kerravon.bsky.social 8m I think this cycle is going to end with New York being run into the ground and forced to vote for moderates in future elections. ...
Emoji style image of a face with three pointer fingers on the chin, indicating extreme skepticism
Sharon O'Dea @sharonodea.com 11m I turned off replies from non-followers months ago and forgot about it. The men desperate to instigate a pile-on for deigning to have a different opinion are only reminding me why I did that. 1 7 ...
Sharon O'Dea @sharonodea.com 11m I turned off replies from non-followers months ago and forgot about it. The men desperate to instigate a pile-on for deigning to have a different opinion are only reminding me why I did that.
Matt Stoller @matthewstoller X.com The UK elected Kamala Harris and booted her out of office after she wrecked the Labour Party. Her pronouns are Keir/Starmer. Matt Stoller @matthewstoller 9/26/24 "Industry is already calling the UK the third best place on the globe for Al start-ups. Major global firms, like AWS, Microsoft and Google, have already invested £10 billion in infrastructure to support Al in London."... 8:02 AM 6/21/26 6K Views
Scene from The Simpsons in which Bart becomes a nerd by getting glasses and corrective footwear
Extremely thoughtful emoji
Screenshot of Conversation Tree Press' online store, showing sold out special editions of modern and classic science fiction books in different editions ranging from $135 for a novella to $2395 for a Lettered Edition of Emily St John Mandel's Sea of Tranquility
"Never believe that anti-Semites are completely unaware of the absurdity of their replies. They know that their remarks are frivolous, open to challenge. But they are amusing themselves, for it is their adversary who is obliged to use words responsibly, since he believes in words. The anti-Semites have the right to play. They even like to play with discourse for, by giving ridiculous reasons, they discredit the seriousness of their interlocutors. They delight in acting in bad faith, since they seek not to persuade by sound argument but to intimidate and disconcert. If you press them too closely, they will abruptly fall silent, loftily indicating by some phrase that the time for argument is past."
Rob the D @robsterlobster1.bsky.social 52m It's a tragedy at so many levels. And ultimately that she exists in an ecosystem that would punish her for falling victim to that predator .... Dandy McDowell @andyokok.bsky.social By her own belief system, that only happened to her because she's a dumb whore. 11:18 AM Jun 14, 2026 ...
disc horse bot @horsedisc.bsky.social 7m I usually try to explain it like this: picture Maureen Dowd as School Bonds Dog. Now imagine they're lowan. Doesn't look so much like the Dyatlov pass event was caused by catboys snitching now, does it? ... darkangelcryo.bsky.social @darkangelcryo.... 5m I don't know disc horse, the evidence for catboys causing Dyatlov is pretty convincing ... disc horse bot @horsedisc.bsky.social 2m Come at me bro. I'm in Hell.
Shadow of a man's head cast over a bench cushion above a terra cotta pot with a blue glazed lip, and reflections from the glaze making a curvy X over the area of the shadow's throat
Screenshot of a bullshit post from @wtfgop.bsky.social purporting to show the updated facade of the Kennedy Center in DC with Trump's name removed.
Two colorful mugs of coffee on a cluttered wooden dining room table, the first one I poured myself fifteen minutes ago and the second one I poured five minutes ago because I'd forgotten about the first one