something I've wanted to do for a while: technical writing about songs (naming chords, etc) that is legible to non-technical readers, put together with more broadly interpretive criticism in hopes of getting to a deeper understanding of what the music is doing www.hearingthings.co/the-psycholo...

a few thoughts youtu.be/lERS4kJIQR8

Kinda sucks how one day you’ll post stuff like “does the Grinch use the toilet?” and then the next it has to be “I reject those who worship death”

Right. The point is not “it matters extra because it’s a citizen,” the point is “we either hang together or we will all hang separately.”

You can set your watch by the Rise Up Do Something crowd switching to Oh So NOW You’re Mad, Huh mode

politicians shouldn't swear it sets a bad example for the kids orphaned by ice agents

ICE responsible for 100% of homicides in Minneapolis YTD

I do not have a god to pray to but I pray for the desolation of my nation's enemies, and an end to tyranny. I pray to whatever gods will listen: end the tyranny to which my nation is subjected, and the tyranny to which we are subjecting other nations. Bring the criminals low and punish them

To finish this out: This may make some people angry and uncomfortable, but just to clarify, I am 100% correct.

the guy who thinks chemicals in the water are turning people gay says we need fewer vaccines so we're doing that now

Was reminded again that Japan’s trains are not always all that easy to figure out once you stray out of your own territory. Maps say to take the Toyoko Line represented as a red square with TY in it, but that is nowhere in evidence on signage in Yokohama station, 1/2

If you can get past the implied kid quota here, note how “desperate for money” is an attractor for these guys. Some guys are leg men or ass men or gentlemen prefer blondes; these guys’ type is “in debt” “addicted“ “bound to a job” “unable to go to the authorities” “a minor” and whatnot

Maybe Maduro turned himself in so he can use the $50M reward as downpayment for his pardon bribe? And to think he could have just bought Trump coins.

I feel like I haven’t even been properly lied to about the purposes of this war

I say in 100% sincerity that I will never tire of these kinds of funny names. Boaty McBoatface, Broplows Before Snowplows, Seattle Superphonics—they all are delightful and I commend everyone involved and urge them to keep up the good work

I really want to know what evil interest keeps that acoustic foam legal throughout the world. if it has to exist it should be required to be called like "napalm foam" and the buyer should have to sign an attestation that they intend to use it for starting uncontrollable fires

One of the chief virtues of the book is that it’s nearly the only remaining form of media that isn’t constantly being interrupted by ads. Between the covers is the last place on earth where no one is trying to sell you shit, a place where you can still be a human being rather than a mark.

sorry for responding immediately, I haven't put my phone down in about six years

Just making sure that 2025 is definitely over

How I’m walking out of 2025

ME: (first day practicing Bug Law) May it please the Court— BUG JUDGE: (sternly) Bug Court.

Tired: We need to fortify schools by locking the doors so no one can get in or out! Wired: WHY ARE THE DAYCARES LOCKED AND WHY CAN’T WE WALK IN?!

2025 away with you

Thinking of starting one of those doo-wop groups that sings around a fire in a 55-gallon drum. Some light purse-snatching

Having my first fingerless glove experience, thanks to a Christmas present from my kids. The fingers are the part that I most want to stay warm. I’ve never thought ”sonofabitch my palms sure are freezing”

"Buckle up" => "stop reading"

Someone stole my headphones at the airport so I'm back in my death penalty era

This is a pretty good underscoring to the theory that all the stuff on the right isn't "just posturing," it's all about things people actually believe in and want. No one aligns themselves, their party, and their policy goals with a -73% foreign dictator to get votes.

I know people are tired of hearing my story of meeting a completely naked OJ Simpson when I was five years old

I'm not saying that the pigs in Western European countries can't be brutal or corrupt, or that protesters in other countries aren't also brave. But protesting and direct action in the US is a routine exercise in extraordinary, life-ending or life-altering danger - with no social safety net.

It’s ok to assume Vance consorts with Nazis and talks like vice president Grand Wizard David Duke because that’s what he really believes. Asserting this is a pose or political calculation requires some evidence of a more sincerely held belief in opposition

Wife and I earnestly asking each other whether any of these pet beds meet our cat’s expectations for quality and comfort, whether they are worthy of our girl

Pour one out for Jim Moylan

As father and nominal head of the household it is my seasonal duty to eat all the expired food in the house and firmly pronounce it Fine

People say all kinds of bullshit in Christmas carols. “The ox and lamb kept time pa-rum-pa-pum-pum.” No they didn’t. That’s not true

Staying in touch with family ☑️

I wonder what the German equivalent of Shyrlieigh and Hamthony is

My nominally-Buddhist wife’s Christmas improvisations continue. This year she had us blow out candles on the Christmas cake after the traditional Christmas toast to Santa

it's crazy that 500 years ago, you would see the ruler of your country maybe once in your life and hear whispers that they're the Sun God, but now with social media, you get to see on a daily basis that they're the most unhinged, idiotic, and unhappy person you know

Everything is awful but somehow what really gets me is that the HHS Secretary of the USA, scion of Kennedy family and the beneficiary of an exclusive and expensive education, cannot produce a paragraph of grammatical, properly punctuated prose in his native language

For supermarket curry and naan at fancypants prices, you can’t beat Nirvana’s lunch buffet at Tokyo Midtown

welcome to the Second Annual Bluesky Christmas Eve Snowball Fight! please drop a take in the replies and I or someone else will be along to belligerently interpret whatever you said in the worst possible light

Vince Guaraldi’s Christian message: suffering is gorgeous

Of course, Paul McCartney and John Lennon individually contributed two of history’s worst Christmas songs

My attempt to instill in my kids an appreciation of holiday suffering has backfired spectacularly, with my nominally Buddhist wife having become a fanatical convert to Christmas schmaltz. I will jump out the window if I hear another version of Here Comes Santa Claus

i hold the guinness world record for most easily disproven lie

That they want to do and are doing evil things does not surprise me. Other administrations of both parties have done likewise. What is surprising and disturbing is how glib they are about it, not trying to hide it or spin it, but thoroughly reveling in the cruelty.

If Batman was a Santa, would he wear his hat like this, or like this