Tonight I watched a forgotten horror film from 1977 that featured the screen debut of Sexy Young Stephen Tobolowsky (playing a nubile young stable boy), and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it.

The “prosecute the former regime at every level” candidate has my vote in 2028.

Yes, yes, Dry January is all very nice and good and virtuous, but everything is terrible right now, and I happened to see a label this morning for a sparkling wine that spoke to my deepest soul.

Taking a brief stroll down Talk Soup memory lane. Delighted to see that my hairstyle has not changed one whit from 1997.

Us magazine has a nice retrospective on Talk Soup for its 35th anniversary. My first grown-up job! Which means... yeah. I'm old. www.usmagazine.com/entertainmen...

I was lying on my back, reading on my e-reader in bed. Used the hand holding the e-reader to yank my comforter up closer to my chin. Yanked too hard, comforter slipped from my grasp, and I smashed my e-reader into the bridge of my nose hard enough to see a big flash of white light.

Re-upping my occasional modest proposal that, in these troubled times, this site should adopt Midnight Oil's "Blue Sky Mine" (1990) as its official anthem (“So I'm caught at the junction still waiting for medicine/The sweat of my brow keeps on feeding the engine...”). www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofrq...

My favorite since 1984. A pre-Highlander Russell Mulcahy throws the boys into multiple kinky bondage scenarios while stuff blows up. www.youtube.com/watch?v=M43w... I'm heading into 2026 with this at full volume: 🎶 "They tried to break us/Looks like they'll try agaaaaaaaaaaaaaain...."

Fellow children of the eighties: This is your annual Christmas reminder that "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" was composed by Mr. Shorofsky from "Fame." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_...

This was eight years ago, my first year in Seattle, feeding the ducks in Volunteer Park on Christmas morning. I hope all ducks are warm and happy and full of nuts today.

All groceries are purchased, and I've got the menu for the next couple of days up on the fridge, which means I'm ready for Christmas to begin. (Probably should quickly point out here that Bear Cub is a wine. My sister and I are not eating a baby bear for Christmas dinner.)

I rarely repost my old stories but if you’re into a 1983 Knight Rider-themed Christmas quasi-rap 7” vinyl novelty single with connections to Alanis Morissette, The Golden Girls, Mac Tonight, Boy Meets World, Michael Jackson, and more… then have I got a story for you! www.spin.com/2023/12/a-kn...

I'm celebrating my birthday today! If you want to get me something at the last minute, I would love reposts a lot, and reviews even more! linktr.ee/authorlevai

Truth. I saw Pistachio Pecorino at the fancy grocery story yesterday. It's a lawless realm; stay safe out there, fellow cheese lovers.

I saw a river otter slink into the waters of Lake Washington as the sun rose, and then I saw a squirrel get into an epic and frankly hilarious slap-fight with a seagull over a walnut on the UW campus, so how could my day have been anything but good?

Tukwila, Renton, Kent, likely Auburn folks: the GO NOW evacuation order has been issued.

On a unbearably grim morning, this made me laugh out loud. Rest well, Mr. Reiner.

1994, one of my classes at USC, we're getting a peek at an upcoming low-budget indie, followed by a Q&A with the unknown director. The film was Clerks, and as a trench coat-clad Kevin Smith strolled down the aisle to the stage as credits rolled, we all gasped in near-unison: "IT'S SILENT BOB!"

Happy 100th Birthday Dick Van Dyke, and thank you for the joy!

There's a nice brand-new review of THE UNDERSTUDY up at Air Mail: airmail.news/issues/2025-... Love that they used the very apt Barbarella image as a header.

Thank you, CrimeReads, for putting The Understudy on your list of the Best Psychological Thrillers of 2025!

The cranes of Lake Washington are looking all spooky and cool (as is their wont) on this gloomy Seattle day.

I'm struggling with holiday cheer this season, to put it mildly, but at least my festively-decorated focaccia game is on point.

This is your seasonal reminder that Less Than Zero is a Christmas movie.

This album confirms my long-held belief that traditional Christmas carols are at their best when they're played loud and FAST. Ideally, a lot of full-throated scream-singing should be involved. Contains the finest version of O Come O Come Emmanuel I've ever heard.

It's time to talk to you about my cat.

Hey all, The Onion is accepting applicants for our writing, video and graphics fellowships. Fellowships last six months, pay well, and provide full benefits. You can apply at theonion.com/fellowship.

If you love an audiobook, GIRL IN THE CREEK is on sale for just $4.99 at libro.fm/audiobooks/9... !

Really good NYT piece on the increasingly recognizable--and increasingly irritating--prose style of AI. Thank you to @stevendbrewer.com for the below gift link. (I, too, will cling to my em dashes to my grave.)

I was browsing soundtrack records on my weekend trip to PDX. Came across this gem and reminded me of @morganrichter.bsky.social When GenX Ruled the Multiplex (I miss the series dearly) I got home and noticed how poorly the head in the middle is cut into this photo. Going to rewatch it tonight

“NO SLEEP ‘TIL BROOKLYN!” I cry, as I, a mild-mannered fifty-something lady and Gen-X pop-culture aficionado, advance on the Brooklyn Museum.

Happy Thanksgiving. Time for my hallowed holiday tradition of posting screenshots from that sketch from E!'s Talk Soup in which I had to stick my sock-clad foot inside a still-frozen but shockingly juicy raw turkey. Would love to be able to say this all made more sense in context.

Episode to episode, those Miami Vice set designers *earned* their paychecks.

every week we get to friday and i think well maybe next week will not be so weird

Happy 40th birthday, you strange and beautiful creature.

What are your top 5 movie genres? Mine are: - Punks crash the party at the country club - My dangerous yet glamorous job is destroying my soul - Score by Tangerine Dream - I’m stuck in an apocalyptic wasteland, but my hair looks great - Body horror, but also sexy

Every once in a while, the Industry Relations office of my alma mater sends me job postings. Many years ago, a bright-eyed and energetic young version of me would have jumped at the chance to be Lorne Michael's Second Assistant. The current version of me felt exhausted just reading this.

I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm much too busy this morning. You've caught me right in the middle of an important Ninja Quest™ (i.e. doing my nails).

I genuinely think that a depressing portion of readers don’t know how to engage with a first-person narrator as anything other than an uncomplicated hero to whom we’re meant to relate

Wilson took a 1,976-vote lead over Bruce Harrell. With a maximum of 1,320 ballots remaining, it is mathematically impossible for Harrell to catch up.

how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...

Last night's fundraiser for the Oregon Food Bank was awesome! Tons of local writers came out to read, contribute books & goodies for our raffle prizes, and to donate to the food bank. We raised $1495 for the food bank while having a lot of fun and exchanging a LOT of hugs. People are so very good.

Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- [email protected] or dm me. RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!

This is excellent writing advice from @jordanharper.bsky.social. Sometimes just doing that one single thing will be enough to open the floodgates. Not always! But sometimes. And even if that single thing is all you do in a day, it's still a big step up from doing nothing.

Took out the trash and accidentally dropped my mailbox key in the dumpster. Went diving for it (gross), and today's mail brought me my notice of my 2026 health insurance premium, which will be, ahem, ELEVEN TIMES what I'm currently paying. I should've left that key in the dumpster.

You can tell the holidays are approaching, because I just got an email from the Vermont Country Store titled "Fa-la-la-lannel for everyone!"

This is a good heads up for writers. I've been approached recently by scammers claiming to represent legitimate book clubs, who say they've chosen one of my books for discussion and follow up with ways I can pay for promotion. It's gross. Just a reminder: legit book clubs *never* charge authors.

I *am*, in fact, an expert on all things manly and avuncular, and this podcast was a blast. Loved being able to gab on at great length about my love of Napoleon and Illya.