"And I never say no" We need to have a serious talk about the way "AI companion" apps not only prey on the vulnerable, but are priming their users to ignore consent and to conflate love with control. We need AI regulations across so many sectors, but this area is particularly horrifying.

Let me guess: They believe that Middle Earth was very nearly united by a genius tech bro, but he was defeated by one small mistake in his security system. They didn't actually *read* Lord of the Rings, did they?

Anyway, here's a photo of my cat, Maria, who is also judging my bad choices tonight.

I went to trade in my car today, and it has turned into a disaster. This is a story about how expensive it is to be--well, I was going to say poor, but really this story is about not being wealthy in the US.

A Lord of the Rings cover band called Flock of Smeagols

Can’t wait to tell my therapist about the moment when a guy I was dumping yesterday angrily called me a goblin and I smiled a toothy grin and thought, “Damn, I wish. I’d love to crunch on men’s bones in the forest.”

Currently banging my head on my keyboard because I accidentally sent out a form-ish email and forgot to personalize the big part that says “[PERSONALIZE THIS SECTION]” Didn’t catch it in time for undo send.

I'm old enough to have seen a version of this story repeat over multiple decades. It's old and tired. It's also very gendered. If you're counting Coldplay as a rock act, and not counting Olivia Rodrigo, that's a you problem.

I love the NYC subway. I just watched an older woman sit down on someone’s lap then say “well, if you won’t vacate the seat, prepare to be the seat.” *chef’s kiss* 10/10, we love to see it

Imagine having all the money and creative power in the world and using it to trash other artists. I’d say get a hobby but he’s already found a bad one.

People are always like “what do you think x historical figure would do in present day?” And the answer is if they’re pre-mid 19th century, fucking lose their shit at the Natural History Museum.

Spin the Bottle A full bottle of wine is placed in the center of the circle. One player spins, and whoever the wine bottle points to must drink more than two glasses without apologizing that wine makes them sleepy, and they have to be up early to shop for a new ottoman.

The remains of Gresham castle photographed with a regular camera and how it looks with a LiDar drone camera.

Bring back Silly Online as a career in 2026

The new AA flight progress bar makes me feel like I’m living in video game and I kind of love it for that.

One of my neighbors has been putting up these fish facts posters. All kinds of different fish, marine, freshwater, deep, shallow, all kinds. This is a good one. “Stg this real fish” took me out. Good work, neighbor.

I think if you’re *really* good in this life, you get to come back in the next as a sentient, hungry rug that’s technically a shark.

Good on Penn Jillette. Having to come to terms with your entire political identity and philosophy being wrong is not easy and most people could never do it.

Seems fake, but I’m listening

Do you still need to find a gift for a historian or history enthusiast in your life? Boy howdy have I got 101 ideas for you. open.substack.com/pub/unrulyfi...

Spent two hours cleaning up my office/library/growing mushroom pile of books for a 25 second video. Sounds like 2025.

I’ve never actually *been* caterpillar soup in a cocoon, but I imagine it feels similar to how I feel when I’m emerging from a migraine haze and my joints feel like jelly

Deadline was met. Parking meter was forgotten though—shout out to the angel who paid it for me. Strangers paying someone else’s rundown meters are all that’s giving me hope these days.

The real question is not "Why is Bluesky so left-coded," the real question is "Why can't the right exist in a social media environment without algorithmic assistance, where people can ignore them"

who decided to call it Secret Santa when Nondisclosure Claus was right there

(My sudden re-emergence brought to you by my next deadline for the @latimes.com) (It's today) (Send coffee)

Is today the day I finally lock in to social media again? STAY TUNED TO FIND OUT

Did the @latimes.com really call The Radical Fund a #HamiltontheMusical story for the 20th century? Thanks for reading, @thevalorieclark.bsky.social. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

I mean… *chef’s kiss* @gregmania.bsky.social on em dashes in @mcsweeneys.net

Trying to get into the habit of using a new social network as a Tired Millenial™️ really should count as an Olympic sport.

I guess I do this now. Hi friends ✨