Sign in

Michael McKinney

@mashan.bsky.social
307 followers 512 following 1.1K posts

(He/him) Sometime author and esotericist. History buff. Player of Dwarf Fortress. Feeder of cats. Knower of obscure and mostly useless things. aka "Satyr" (yes, that Satyr)

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Michael McKinney
James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Somehow not everyone is aware of fact alluded to below. So one more time: John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett were all on GWBush 2000 'Florida Recount' team. (Which made GWB first prez in 112 yrs to 'win' after losing popular vote. Now they 'impartially' rule on our future.)
9853472189
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I am assuming Crowley is talking about raja yoga, which the yoga sutras define as quieting the mind as a means to recognition. Whether there are other definitions of meditation or yoga isn't relevant since the sutras agree with me and Crowley is clearly, demonstrably wrong.
101
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
That's not exaggeration. The A∴A∴ is literally the product of a couple of Englishmen stripping from eastern enlightenment traditions what they valued and discarding, even disparaging, what they did not. The combination of arrogance, ignorance, and exploitation is classic colonialism.
000
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I've realized a bit late that my real problem with Crowley and Crowleyanity is that I feel such a fool when I see there's nothing to it. Gaining subject-matter expertise exposes Ol' Bullet Head for the colonialist dilettante he was.
000
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
“We have spent the last 18 years describing the financial crisis as .. a black swan .. .. It was none of those things.” It was “the scheduled mathematical consequence of loans that assumed perpetual appreciation. .. The AI boom has rebuilt this exact structure.” www.groundbrkr.com/p/the-teaser...
23485153
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
I originally thought Fuller equated the HGA with ādibuddha, but that's incorrect. It was Fuller writing in, "The Temple of Solomon the King", but he is actually quoting a letter from Crowley. The text follows.
100
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
I dug out the Crowley quote about "dynamic" nirvāna, and context didn't help. I think the kindest construction is that he just wasn't clear about what nirvāna meant. The full quote follows.
210
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
The origin and expansion of Proto-Indo-European.
020
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Michael Schulman @michaelschulman.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Happy 100th birthday, Mel Brooks! Here’s some great advice he gave me back he was a wee lad of 95. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
You have some wonderful stories of basically getting away with stuff at the studios.

I’d learned one very simple trick: say yes. Simply say yes. Like Joseph E. Levine, on “The Producers,” said, “The curly-haired guy—he’s funny looking. Fire him.” He wanted me to fire Gene Wilder. And I said, “Yes, he’s gone. I’m firing him.” I never did. But he forgot. After the screening of “Blazing Saddles,” the head of Warner Bros. threw me into the manager’s office, gave me a legal pad and a pencil, and gave me maybe twenty notes. He would have changed “Blazing Saddles” from a daring, funny, crazy picture to a stultified, dull, dusty old Western. He said, “No farting.” I said, “It’s out.”That’s probably the most famous scene in the movie, the campfire scene.

I know. He said, “You can’t punch a horse.” I said, “You’ll never see it again.” I kept saying, “You’re absolutely right. It’s out!” Then, when he left, I crumpled up all his notes, and I tossed it in the wastepaper basket. And John Calley, who was running [production at] Warner Bros. at the time, said, “Good filing.” That was the end of it. You say yes, and you never do it.

That’s great advice for life.

It is. Don’t fight them. Don’t waste your time struggling with them and trying to make sense to them. They’ll never understand.
4849216
Reposted by Michael McKinney
The Rude Pundit @rudepundit.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
At a Midsummer celebration at the British Library and this might be the twee-est thing ever. We’ve had maypole dancing. I’m a bit leery of the giant wicker man, though.
9674
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
The real danger of Crowley's approach is one can end up with a carefully curated antique shop of spiritual practices, none of which is fully understood, let alone followed to its conclusion.
100
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Willow and I did an introduction to the Sigillum Dei Æmeth and planetary Enochian, so I spent some hours yesterday revisiting Liber Secundus. Man, after 30+years, reading this again is quite an eye-opener. I didn't remember the dialog being quite so coherent.
000
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Evan May @gianttourtiere.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Obviously what we do next is send down a crewed vehicle to investigate what happened to the robot one. I'm sure the unknown structures of the frozen deep are just a coincidence and this will be fine.
917353
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Finally got around to splitting this cobble. Siliceous mud/silt stone from a context suggesting Devonian. Highlands of western Virginia.
000
Reposted by Michael McKinney
ve, the ghost of info past @vortexegg.com · 13/05/2026
There was some podcast episode a few years ago with Douglas Rushkoff and Richard Metzger (of disinfo dot com) where they asked if Operation Mindfuck and the like were too successful because MAGA inherited it, and yes, that was exactly the problem when occut belief magic was pursued as a laugh.
4437
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Schnorkles O'Bork @schnorkles.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
lmao this is some grade a excellent ratfucking and they should 100% do it.
1028962
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Quinta Jurecic @qjurecic.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
The problem—which both the GOP and the milquetoast institutionalists seem to not be grappling with here—is that the more you close off avenues of political change through the democratic process, the more you push people to see extra-institutional mechanisms as their only option
542429492
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Willie Dustice @fightingbaseball94.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Folks we’re worshipping a golden calf very strongly. Someone who is very nasty said “thou shalt have no other gods before me”. Should we do it? Should we make unto thee graven images and bow before them? *crowd erupts in cheers*
08617
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Dr Francis Young @drfrancisyoung.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
“And I bind and conjure thee spirit that thou be truthful in all thy utterances, &c.”
929674
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Tucker Carlson invented a brand new facial expression, confustipated, decades ago and decided he would never use any others ever again.
1725352
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Tim Carmody @tcarmody.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
I don’t know how anyone makes it anywhere in life without learning how to pretend you’ve read something when you haven’t or pretend you’ve understood something if you didn’t. These are invaluable skills most of us picked up in college
530420
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Fiona Tribe @fionatribe.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Yes, Swiss scientist Fritz Zwicky coined the term “dark matter” which is impressive, but he also coined the term “spherical bastard” to describe people who are bastards no matter which way you look at them, and I think that should be celebrated more.
151160544418
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Skip, the Online New Yorker (terrifying, i know) @badposter.lol · 22/04/2026
a wizard (why’s pfp), a skeleton minion (Claude) approached “i’ve read through your notifications, they wish to harm you m’lord”
close up on the wizard “oh dear… block them all.”
the skeleton minion crawls away “yes m’lord, Claude shall block the non-believers, yes…”
6165071646
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
You ever try to code switch at work and fail? 😂
1200317273934
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Me and a small nugget of love. 🇸🇪♥️🇺🇦 @mnotme.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
The human circulatory system, before and after proper cable management.
two images of the human body's circulatory system. One of them with good cable management
294200423910
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
North Korea-ass shit
000
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Weedle @weedle.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Exactly one year ago today:
448280349337
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Dr Eleanor Janega @goingmedieval.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
An absolutely baffling time to be an historian of apocalyptic thought. Like my man is just straight up doing Antichrist stuff and I am meant to be normal???
681492229
Reposted by Michael McKinney
mtsw @mtsw.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Contrary to public perception a huge % of pregnant teenagers in the 1990s were impregnated by adult men. The younger they were, the larger the average age gap between mother and father was. Fixing teen pregnancy was in part a clampdown on statutory rape. That's what conservatives want to reverse.
12899183354
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
I am tempted to say this is a key part of Donald Trump's appeal. He embodies the know-it-all incuriosity of every Trump supporter I've encountered.
050
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Art Of Coop @artofcoop.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
*William Gibson throws his typewriter out the window*
218124
Reposted by Michael McKinney
spooky tail latency @bluespacecanary.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
we inhabit the stupidest of all possible worlds. it could absolutely be worse, but it could not be any stupider
1181
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Senator Tim Kaine @kaine.senate.gov · 02/04/2026
Today, I had a great conversation with members of the Virginia delegation at the inaugural Virginia Defense Forum. We talked about working together to boost our alliances and military readiness, grow our industrial base, and support servicemembers and military installations.
Senator Kaine speaks on a stage with Congressman Scott and Congresswoman Kiggins. Senator Kaine engages in conversation with a man.
9264
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Senator Tim Kaine @kaine.senate.gov · 02/04/2026
Today, I visited Foodbank of SE VA and the Eastern Shore to celebrate federal funding I secured for its new facility. I also had a productive discussion with leaders in the region working to address food insecurity. It's clear we still have more to do, especially after the GOP slashed SNAP benefits.
Kaine engages in conversation. Senator Kaine speaks to a man in a warehouse.
2273
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Chaplain John @chaplainjohn.medsky.social · 29/03/2026
Death is a common and meaningful experience. ⚓️ A good death is possible and desirable. 🛟 Advance Care Planning is great, and everyone should do it. 🩺 Grief is normal, and it can be treated for better outcomes. 🧠
04012
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Richard Kadrey @richardkadrey.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Good morning #WeekendAffirmation
A photo of a horse standing on a roof with the caption, "I will always succeed because I am insane."
37718
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Tom Reagan’s Witch’s Hat @rufustsuperfly.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
It’s Akira Kurosawa’s birthday. The older I get, the more I think about this quote: ‘I can’t afford to hate anyone. I don’t have that kind of time.’
831378
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
As an amusing aside, it looks like the zazen-practicing A∴A∴ pod I'd picked up has blocked me again.
000
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
I used to think meditation, especially something like zazen, was a sort of universal medicine, and everyone should do it. I still do! But having meditated for years now, I am dead against practicing without experienced supervision.
100
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Existential Comics @existentialcomics.com · 14/03/2026
Possible solution to the Strait of Hormuz?
Straight of Hormuz, with Buddha imposed, text: The realization that the lack of oil isn't causing your suffering, but the desire for oil itself, on your path to enlightenment.
9894042345
Reposted by Michael McKinney
rev. howard arson @theophite.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
i do think that if you are going to put egyptian mummies on display, that the room they are in should at least have a Ka door, and that there should be food placed on the lintel. the Rosicrucian Museum has one of those upstairs in the Akhenaten exhibit and it changed my opinion on repatriation.
642047
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Julia Carrie Wong @joolia.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
We don’t talk enough about how morally depraved the tech industry turned out to be. Every single ounce of their self-regarding statements of values was an outright lie.
12462581309
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Somebody was saying that watching establishment Democrats learn that saying obviously true things about foreign policy is popular is like watching a toddler take its first steps
201553271
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Boo-ly, Little Ghost Bull 👻🐮 @bullythelsb.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
you have a right to be angry
Drawing of Little My, a small girl in a red dress, sliding down a hill. She is drawn by Tove Jansson from the Moomin series. The text reads: "WHEN you're angry, then you're angry," thought Little My, peeling her potato with her teeth. "Sometimes you have to be angry. Every little creature has the right to get angry."
92269784
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Liberal Librarian, Son of Cuban Immigrants 🟦 @liberallibrarian.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Dog belly dancing, part 2.
5379144
Reposted by Michael McKinney
𝕄𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕒 @malacandra.me · 27/02/2026
I'm so old that I remember when Matt Groening was that cartoonist in the underground paper.
182
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Realization is an orphan. It has no relatives. It is all-contextual and very definitive. There's no going back and no getting away. It is permanent, and changes absolutely everything, while simultaneously changing nothing. - Ziji Chöchen
001
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Sharon 🪳🌹 @sharonk.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
man, reading about the Flying Tigers (US pilots flying for China during WW2) makes me feel like sobbing 😭
It was told by a Flying Tiger pilot who was shot down over enemy territory in China. Fortunately, he was picked up by villagers and hidden in a couple's house.

"The first thing they did was to take his boots away. He thought: 'They're going to take everything I have of value and then turn me over to the Japanese,'" Jobe told the audience.

When the Japanese came into this house, they mercilessly beat the couple, and then another Japanese soldier came and mumbled something, and suddenly all of them left the home and the town.

Touching story

The pilot later discovered that the couple had given his boots to a young man who left a trail out of the town; the Japanese believed the trail was left by the Flying Tiger, so they followed it.

The pilot waited at the home till a missionary arrived to help escort him back to his base. Before leaving, he asked the missionary to ask the couple why they risked their lives to save his. "Their answer was simplicity itself: 'When the Japanese come, we see fear in the eyes of the Chinese; when the Flying Tigers come, we see fear in the eyes of the Japanese,'" said Jobe.
161149175
Michael McKinney @mashan.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Ego isn't a thing; it's something you do. As Bucky said, "I seem to be a verb".
000
Reposted by Michael McKinney
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Reading people. Body language. Knowing how to connect with people totally unlike you and with different backgrounds and beliefs. Defusing tense situations. Gaining trust. High endurance, pain tolerance, and work ethic. Reaction time. Prioritizing order of execution. Anticipating people’s needs. Tons
280138091620