The good news is I am currently writing the conclusion to my dissertation, which is to say the end is in sight! The bad news is now I must uh, draw conclusions, and the conclusion cannot be "I am so burned out by academia, why must we pretend this matters at all please just pass me and let my weary soul rest."
It’s the least we can do, I think, piece together the story from the rings and scars of the fallen.
"What Time Is It?" Claire Kovac for Jeff Sharlet's newsletter Calling All Syllables
Is there a more complete love than one may feel as a child reading an illustrated book about dinosaurs, loving every bone of them, cherishing every minute of their lives, accepting their fossilized giant bird shits and even their very departure with fierce love.
Submitted by v last week but I missed it.
Democracy is burning, and you would have me buy a reclaimed-wood, custom-made violin.
"Angry Nerd: Enough With Technology That ‘Democratizes’ Things!", Sara Harrison for Wired
When asked by a prosecuting attorney, a devout man, in hospital, if he wanted to confess to anything, he uttered his final words, "Go fuck yourself."
Wikipedia entry for Jimmy Hoffa
It’s someone who makes money from talking, often by means of selling dick pills.
"The Hatred of Podcasting", Brace Belden for The Baffler
Samsung is bringing "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" to Fortnite as it looks to connect with Gen Z in its latest move into the metaverse
Post by Ad Age on Twitter
Submitted as a screenshot by Chris as a "perfect(ly bad) sentence" that I didn't bother to look up a URL for because it is so haunting.
Could we get like, a sexy female Mr. Bean in here?
"The Epstein Files", Jenny Jaffe
Runner-up being the immediately preceding sentence:
“I love Mr. Bean,” said Mitch Fist.
We are going to lose this battle over terminology — we have already lost it — but/and it’s useful to put a marker in the ground; a gravestone, you might call it; for words that once meant something.
"Ungrounded Thought", Robin Sloan on his blog
Submitted by christian.
Growing pots of money now resemble liquid sand, moldable into whatever shape will fit the money hole in front of it.
"What Wall Street’s obsession with ‘capital solutions’ tells us", Liz Hoffman for Semafor
"No, raccoons typically do not drink blood," the woman behind me at the cafe just said, immediately distracting me from my work.
@ilanaslightly.bsky.social on Bluesky
Submitted by Kelsey.
This is why everyone needs to be more like mad penguins, and less like pigs in tubes.
"Werner Herzog’s New Book Tackles The Problem Of Truth", Tom Whyman for Defector
This is dingbat Gramscianism, strained through the turd-encrusted sieve of Curtis Yarvin Thought.
"What is civil society, and why should we care?", Henry Farrell for his newsletter Programmable Mutter
Submitted by Mike.
Whenever British rappers talk about their guns, this is more or less what I picture.
"Shopping Margaret Thatcher's Estate Sale", John Paul Brammer in his newsletter
All cinema experiences crack you open – some to welcome in emotion, some knowledge, some simply bacteria.
"Having kids has changed my cinema experience", Eva Wiseman for The Observer
Submitted by Matt L. a while ago but I lost track of it.
My ultimate assessment of the film: It was a bad movie, expertly made.
"'One Battle After Another' Isn't Up For The Fight", Jason England for Defector
I saw One Battle After Another this week at the neighborhood cinema that still plays a "welcome to the movie theater" intro reel that tells people to silence their pagers. I thought that most of the actors did a good job with what they were given and I now understand why people are so psyched on Vistavision, but I also just didn't fully vibe with it. I appreciated the perspective of this review!
You have befouled her, you rancid wretch of an amoeba.
Submitted by Matthew.