Today's note of praise is for @hntdove.bsky.social's remarkable novella "Down in the Bottomlands," which I reread now for the first time in approximately three decades. Turtledove, the master of creating worlds almost identical, but not quite, to our own, takes a different tack here, crafting

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 12 in our chronological trip through the American films released in the 1980s - this one a trifle from Disney, notable only for a film debut of a major 1980s actor...from February 1980, it's MIDNIGHT MADNESS!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 11 in our chronological tour through the American movies of the 1980s - it features Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, and a whole lot of smoke machines - from early February 1980, it's John Carpenter's follow-up to HALLOWEEN....THE FOG!

Today's note of praise is for @hntdove.bsky.social's remarkable novella "Down in the Bottomlands," which I reread now for the first time in approximately three decades. Turtledove, the master of creating worlds almost identical, but not quite, to our own, takes a different tack here, crafting

It was!! (Which meant it was rated PG, rather than G!)

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 12 in our chronological trip through the American films released in the 1980s - this one a trifle from Disney, notable only for a film debut of a major 1980s actor...from February 1980, it's MIDNIGHT MADNESS!

Those first ten were just very rough, as far as I remember of the ones I saw. Jeremy deserves a good one.

This is a good description of the movie's appeal - apparently Carpenter put Curtis in more as a kind of nice thing to do; she hadn't gotten a lot of roles after Halloween, which was a travesty - but you can feel the kind of marginality of the role, good as Curtis is.

I cannot argue with this insight. (And am a big fan of King's novella; I think it's in the top rank of things he's written in terms of combining psychological pressure with over-the-top gory spectacle.)

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 11 in our chronological tour through the American movies of the 1980s - it features Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, and a whole lot of smoke machines - from early February 1980, it's John Carpenter's follow-up to HALLOWEEN....THE FOG!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 10 in our tour through the American movies of the 1980s...it's a comedy of mores and manners and the way they lived and loved then...George Segal and Natalie Wood, in Feb. 8, 1980's THE LAST MARRIED COUPLE IN AMERICA!

I've just seen about 40 kids sneak into watch 'The Odyssey' without paying by hiding in a giant wooden coat.

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 10 in our tour through the American movies of the 1980s...it's a comedy of mores and manners and the way they lived and loved then...George Segal and Natalie Wood, in Feb. 8, 1980's THE LAST MARRIED COUPLE IN AMERICA!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 9 in our chronological tour through American movies of the 1980s! It's the decade's first superhero movie, of a sort, starring one of TV's biggest comedy stars...premiering Feb. 8, 1980, it's John Ritter in HERO AT LARGE!

I would love this to be true

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 9 in our chronological tour through American movies of the 1980s! It's the decade's first superhero movie, of a sort, starring one of TV's biggest comedy stars...premiering Feb. 8, 1980, it's John Ritter in HERO AT LARGE!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 8 in our chronological tour through the American movies of the 1980s - it's the Richard Gere prostitution movie, but since it's February 1980, it's the one *before* Pretty Woman, and *he's* the hooker with the heart of gold - it's Paul Schrader's AMERICAN GIGOLO!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 8 in our chronological tour through the American movies of the 1980s - it's the Richard Gere prostitution movie, but since it's February 1980, it's the one *before* Pretty Woman, and *he's* the hooker with the heart of gold - it's Paul Schrader's AMERICAN GIGOLO!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 7 in our chronological tour through American movies of the 1980s: this one's an underappreciated diamond in the rough, the Woody Allen comedy Woody Allen never made....it's Marshall Brickman's SIMON, from Feb. 1980!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 6 in our chronological tour through the American movies of the 1980s! We're into February 1980, and here, one of two comedies released on the first day of the month, is...Anne Bancroft's FATSO, starring Dom DeLuise!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 7 in our chronological tour through American movies of the 1980s: this one's an underappreciated diamond in the rough, the Woody Allen comedy Woody Allen never made....it's Marshall Brickman's SIMON, from Feb. 1980!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 5 in our chronological trip through the American movies of the 1980s! Near to my heart, because it's the first slasher film of the slasher decade (CARDIAC ARREST, as I said earlier, doesn't really count): it's January 1980's TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!

Trent Reznor becomes a D&D mini painter: Nine Inch Flails

This is so wonderful

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 6 in our chronological tour through the American movies of the 1980s! We're into February 1980, and here, one of two comedies released on the first day of the month, is...Anne Bancroft's FATSO, starring Dom DeLuise!

That’s me having the creative experience of a lifetime- if you’re in a similar position do not hesitate to apply!!

That’s me having the creative experience of a lifetime- if you’re in a similar position do not hesitate to apply!!

Look at @jeremydauber.bsky.social, the face of the Sundance Institute episodic writers workshop!

A great talent at a very reasonable price!!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 5 in our chronological trip through the American movies of the 1980s! Near to my heart, because it's the first slasher film of the slasher decade (CARDIAC ARREST, as I said earlier, doesn't really count): it's January 1980's TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 4 in our chronological trip through the American movies of the 1980s - premiering Jan. 23, 1980, it's Charles Bronson in CABO BLANCO!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 4 in our chronological trip through the American movies of the 1980s - premiering Jan. 23, 1980, it's Charles Bronson in CABO BLANCO!

Quick random question to the hive mind: if you wanted to know the history of a piece of American property - e.g. what stores or businesses were at a particular address over 200 years - how would one go about doing that?

One of the many wonderful things about Cruise is that he is genuinely willing to let his freak flag fly for the right project

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 3 in our chronological trip through the American movies of the 1980s. Released Jan. 18, 1980, it's Sidney Lumet's comedic take on what used to be known as the battle of the sexes...It's JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT!

Today's note of praise is for Ira Levin's debut novel, A KISS BEFORE DYING, which is hard to talk about without ruining the premise, so suffice it to say that it's one of those books that brings together a sense of unbearable suspense, a remarkable plot twist that feels both shocking and inevitable,

This is a very astute and accurate observation!

I mean, Woody Allen and Mel Brooks were actually both playing romantic leads! So ....[shrug emoji?]

Both these answers are correct

Today's note of praise is for Ira Levin's debut novel, A KISS BEFORE DYING, which is hard to talk about without ruining the premise, so suffice it to say that it's one of those books that brings together a sense of unbearable suspense, a remarkable plot twist that feels both shocking and inevitable,

I think this is 100 percent true and hugely important to remember

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 3 in our chronological trip through the American movies of the 1980s. Released Jan. 18, 1980, it's Sidney Lumet's comedic take on what used to be known as the battle of the sexes...It's JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 2 in our chronological trip through the American movies of the 1980s: it's famed cinematographer Gordon Willis's only film as director, WINDOWS - premiering Jan. 18, 1980!

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 1: released Jan. 18, 1980....it's the slasher film CARDIAC ARREST! The premise: someone is killing people in San Francisco, and they're doing so, not, as the title would imply, by making them eat lots of fatty foods, but by removing their hearts.

This may be a good time to give Jeremy a follow as he begins this intriguing if frankly mad project

And we're off, with MOVIE NO. 2 in our chronological trip through the American movies of the 1980s: it's famed cinematographer Gordon Willis's only film as director, WINDOWS - premiering Jan. 18, 1980!

Today's note of praise is for Jonathan Hennessey and Mike Smith's 2015 graphic novel THE COMIC BOOK STORY OF BEER, a thoughtful, well-researched, incredibly clear and informative story of a beverage I happen personally to be indifferent toward, but plays a major role in human history and culture.

Today's note of praise is for Jonathan Hennessey and Mike Smith's 2015 graphic novel THE COMIC BOOK STORY OF BEER, a thoughtful, well-researched, incredibly clear and informative story of a beverage I happen personally to be indifferent toward, but plays a major role in human history and culture.

I love the scope and density of a project like this. Sheer insanity. Amazing. I already want to read what this becomes!

nobody on earth better suited for a herculean project like this. Cant wait.