Father of 6, fought with U.S. troops in Afghanistan for a decade, asylum pending, no criminal record. ICE refused to accept his asthma inhaler, offered by his wife. Paxton withholding autopsy report (as he did before, after a Vietnamese detainee died). Who would ever side with the U.S. again?

I used to work on a soap opera as an AD (Frank Valentini, the current EP of GENERAL HOSPITAL was my boss) and it's really delightful seeing people discover how fun these shows can be through the Oliver cameo

Here's the 1905 letter (translated from German) that Friedrich wrote, pleading obsequiously to be allowed to stay in Bavaria (despite dodging military service). Imagine if the prince regent had said yes. harpers.org/archive/2017...

I loved, loved, loved two glorious days of tall ship majesty along the East River, then Hudson. Pounded aurally right now by explosions downriver, no way to escape it. #tbh

Italy wins "Most Beautiful Ship" in the #sail4th parade. The sailors are neatly lined up on the rigging, standing there for at least a couple hours. #july4th #nyc

Outstanding, sensitive profile of Mel Brooks, age 100, comedic genius, by Adrianne LaFrance. Now, I want to watch and laugh along at ALL the films and bits all over again. Seeing the world through the lens of humor is a wonderful gift to have. (gift link)

Messi fever! Canine and human forms, on the Greenpoint Esplanade. #worldcup #fifa #argentina #messi

I'll summarize this: Mamdani asked NYers to keep air conditioning at 78 degrees. A wave criticism hit online. A MSNBC broadcast pointed out the US Department of Energy recommends that 78 degree figure. Immediately after, the US Department of Energy deleted 6,000 web pages related to energy saving.

July 3, Preview to the #sail4th flotilla, happening practically outside my door!! East River preview cruise from 1-4 pm, viewable along the public Esplanade. (that's the pre-view preview, with a workhorse barge in the fore, from a few nights ago)

⚖️ Flashback of some things Jack Smith said before bsky.app/profile/chri...

Caught up on Slow Horses S4, an excellent ensemble of shaded and shady characters. Jackson Lamb is ever more revolting. Roddy Ho, a sad, hilarious Legend in His Own Mind. I wondered why more people don't know about it (Apple+ silo?) but now see that it's finally getting eyeballs after a slow start.

I'm enjoying MY summer in NYC! It does feel extra sparkly this trip, for all the reasons. "... parks unfurl like paintings, a kaleidoscope of humanity seems in sync, lights twinkle, dumplings are cheap, pizza is perfect, bagels are fresh from the oven, dreams are all fulfilled." #nyc #newyork

Look away, Dixie Land: “Professor Jackson is a rigorous academic scholar who has since released most of his slaves. While it’s a sensitive subject for many students from the North, we hope they can learn to accept it.”

I'm confused: Doesn't Christian faith see all children of God deserving of being able to earn livable wages? So they can not starve, afford shelter, and provide for their families? Are "foreigners" not children of God? My view: Love thy neighbor, in this neighborhood we call "Earth." #noplanetB

He could strangle a teenager on camera and they would say he “defied a long-held tradition of presidents not doing that”

I’ve now signed all 1000 Everything Will Swallow You paperbacks in the Blackwell’s warehouse. I hope a few of you will order them! I also signed 50 each of 21st-Century Yokel, Help The Witch, Ring The Hill, Notebook, Villager & 1983 so it’s a good time to put in a bulk order…

What's the skinny? Here's the skinny. Daily Show writer Dan McCoy brings the skinny.

Outstanding, sensitive profile of Mel Brooks, age 100, comedic genius, by Adrianne LaFrance. Now, I want to watch and laugh along at ALL the films and bits all over again. Seeing the world through the lens of humor is a wonderful gift to have. (gift link)

They're working in manufacturing, food sector, health care—taking care of our elderly. In Ohio, the mayor of Springfield, two Congressional Reps, and this Gov—ALL REPUBLICAN—want them to stay. There is no upside to uprooting families from stable, productive lives. For anyone. #immigrants

Calling anyone looking to make games that can contribute to a better future, one we want to see on our planet! Join us for our 8th annual climate jam as we make games together to specifically tackle the topic of climate change. The jam starts July 1 → www.indiecade.com/climate-jam-...

You can play labRats June 29, 8 pm ET (online)! "Audiences play as lab rats in an experiment who work together to take control of their lives." Escape? Take over the lab? Deconstruct the fabric of the reality of your experience? It's up to you. www.tickettailor.com/events/cirqu...

Super rare to meet someone with the same last name as me. Samantha at the Flop House Comedy Club just married into the clan and even got a rabbit tattoo. Fun set tonight!

🧵🧵🧵 I’m not forgetting that federal agents executed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in the street and got away with it. I’m not forgetting that the Trump regime is still covering up the Epstein files. I’m not forgetting that Trump’s Saudi friends murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Does it get more 1984 than this? A "reflecting pool" in which no one is permitted to see the reflections except armed guards.

Whether you're in NYC or abroad, tune in tonight to see how this weird experiment turns out! A dozen readers, free copies for all! Meet us at @datavandals.bsky.social newsstand gallery on downtown 6 train platform at 51st & Lex, or check out the streaming link: www.youtube.com/@DataVandals...

THREAD. A collection of photos I have taken of excellent cats I have met on walks. You will find the captions to the photos in the alt text.

If you're a #gamedev in #nyc, you might find my compilation of newsletters and websites helpful. Besides games, it includes game-adjacent creative entities, tech, fun things to do in NYC, etc. I just added a few items. (Send corrections, updates, additions to games (at) hoppingfun dot com)

You can play labRats June 29, 8 pm ET (online)! "Audiences play as lab rats in an experiment who work together to take control of their lives." Escape? Take over the lab? Deconstruct the fabric of the reality of your experience? It's up to you. www.tickettailor.com/events/cirqu...

NYC friends, this looks fun! "Underground" live music, news, cartoon data viz. Literally! #nyc #events

April: Hegseth says military flu vaccines optional. June: Nearly 300 cases break out at a boot camp where 60% opted out. Today: About face! Vaccines now mandatory again! Pentagon: "mandating vaccines was unrelated to outbreak." #vaccines #vaccine #vaccination #sufs

I just met super-talented Iman at an SVA residency open house. Her character designs had me cracking up from the jump. So full of attitude and expression! Those little flowers on the uniforms look more like food stains, LOL. Flyaway hair/threads, hand on hip, bubble gum. #art #characterdesign

And 4 PhD's in the school of political hard knocks! The day we stop attacking girls and women for being smart, being capable, and being strong is the day our nation grows even greater. #halfthesky #respect r-e-s-p-e-c-t

"Refugees" from South Africa, "victims" of reverse discrimination (because white), will receive an alternative history packet to help them "assimilate" properly in the USA. Accuses Mandela of sabotage, criticizes civil rights, blatantly racist, etc. (gift link) #migrants #refugees #immigration

One month ago, pool debacle foreseen. Microbiology, polymer chemistry thread.

There is no such thing as a fake choice. There are only unengaging choices. Systemic effects don’t guarantee engagement any more than emotional content does; equally a Yes / Also yes-style choice can be engaging, in the right context. You want good choices? Great. Make them good.

An interesting response to my talk at NarraScope by Bruno. Funny to witness the likes of this blog post surpass the view count of the talk itself, but I’m really glad it’s spurred some conversation.

Planning, designing, mapping, populating (40+ NPCs!) crafting, writing, BUILDING an MMO set in space? Every bit rooted in 5 narrative pillars aimed at a better, more cooperative society? They're doing it! They show and tell us how in this excellent talk about making Young Suns. #narrascope

my Narrascope keynote is on YouTube now. thanks to @hoppingfun.bsky.social for compiling the talks in this thread!

Bravo, Andrew Martin! Painfully rings true.

If I didn't add a talk, that doesn't mean it wasn't good or worthwhile! I highlight topics that resonate with me—and my decades as a writer, narrative designer, game designer: Mostly commercial/public media TONS of educational Every medium but film Journalism roots If you viewed a talk, chime in!

Someone has been projecting images all over D.C. “It’s swampier than ever.” The Kennedy Center one is pretty hilarious. 😂😂😂

It's a gorgeous summer day here in NYC, time to take a break from NarraScope catch-up, marking video #35/50. Again, the 2026 playlist is here, for anyone to view, free of charge. #narrascope Happy Father's Day to ALL the Dads. :)

"Bragged how great it went" and then blamed others, falsely and harshly for the colossal failure. Rinse and repeat.

NarraScope 2026 talks are online, free to view, in record time! Here's the playlist, starting with the second keynote speech from @sharangbiswas.bsky.social. The other keynote was given by @meredithgran.com. I'll add thoughts on my favorite talks after I get a chance to view the ones I missed.

James Burrows was not a giant in sitcom directing. He was THE giant. The primary director of Cheers and Taxi. The only director (I believe) of Will & Grace. The director whose pilots for Friends, Third Rock, Frasier, and Big Bang Theory got them on the air. The king. RIP. people.com/james-burrow...

PAID COMICS WRITING GIGS - For the first time since COMICS ARE DYING: THE COMIC, comic book writer / editor Louis Southard is back curating a brand new anthology comic book special! The only thing that’s missing? YOU!!!

Creative Struggle: This helpful article contrasts the creative ("heuristic") process and the "algorithmic" one. I kept thinking about how smoothly it fits the two basic approaches to artificial intelligence: analytic (top-down coding) v. generative (build a brain that teaches itself). #creativity

Full report at the link below. Teacher Fooziyeh Zakeri: "I was standing in the schoolyard with my preschoolers when the first rocket hit the school steps….Less than a minute later, the enemy hit the building with a second missile.” The second missile targeted survivors, per another witness.

Much love to @jannouna.bsky.social @shing.bsky.social @jdragsky.bsky.social @sharangbiswas.bsky.social and everyone else who played Scribe at Narrascope! If you want to play it for yourself, you can download it here! antennasunite.itch.io/scribeos

I think my keynote talk at @narrascope.org went well this year! I put a good deal of thought & research into a big theoretical concept, and hey, maybe an article will come out of this too. See this thread for the games and authors I included!