Update: I'm a Cyber Hero

Passed the quiz at the end of the training so i think i'm officially a human firewall

Was just introduced to the digital scourges of “juice jacking” and “shoulder surfing." I think I'm supposed to be scared of them but they sound fun.

Currently watching a work-mandated security video that promises to turn me into a "human firewall"

www.chronicle.com/article/the-... I worked in “the public humanities” for years at Pitt and writing for LARB or similar publications was a pretty small part of that work. For me, the term was most useful as a label for community engagement done in humanities departments. It was fun.

Here's my review of Katharina Volckmer's CALLS MAY BE RECORDED. Happy for thoughts if you've read it. This is not like most novels. @twodollarradio.bsky.social brooklynrail.org/2025/09/book...

For The Brooklyn Rail, Dan Kubis calls Katharina Volckmer’s CALLS MAY BE RECORDED “a wildly imaginative, deeply intransigent novel" @dankubis.bsky.social 🔗 brooklynrail.org/2025/09/book...

"GREYHOUND uses its ecological consciousness to direct readers’ attentions to the natural world, thoughtfully probes the boundaries of its own awareness, and honestly struggles to achieve a comfortable sense of place." — @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...

Loved reading John Tottenham's novel SERVICE. Does it want a GenX revival? Do I want one of those? Anyway, here’s some dialogue from HENRY FOOL that will tell you what the book is about.

"[The book] uses its ecological consciousness to direct readers’ attentions to the natural world, thoughtfully probes the boundaries of its own awareness." @dankubis.bsky.social's review of "Greyhound" by Joanna Pocock (@catapultbooks.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...

Happy to review Joanna Pocock's GREYHOUND for @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social. It's a great road trip book and also a great book about road trip books. Check it out! @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/18/f...

My favorite scene from one of my all-time favorite films. I talked about it in a toast at my brother's wedding. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9B...

Learned about this film from a Best of 2024 list. It's great!! Needle drop on Unsatisfied as the credits roll was delightful.

Poe would be so happy, except that he liked short stories because they were better at scaring the shit out of you and reminding you of the festering rot that lies at the core of your soul www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/o...

lol gmail you think im worried about my storage being 97% full? wake me up when we get to 99 like usual.

I also wrote about this book. This review is very different from mine but really great and insightful. It talks way more about fish sauce pussy. www.clereviewofbooks.com/writing/vi-k...

bruce springsteen losing his shit over santa

BREAKING! University of Pittsburgh grad students just voted to unionize with United Steelworkers, following the Staff doing the same in September and Faculty also doing the same two years ago. Pitt is now fully a union shop 💪 and I will this one time only allow myself to unironically say Hail 2 Pitt

Have you ever watched people who are really good with kids while they're being really good with kids? They're like magicians. It's awesome. Kiley Reid writes about those sorts of people in this book and her first, I think. chireviewofbooks.com/2024/01/29/c...

Can't make it tonight. If you need me I'll be with some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend.

I wrote about Anthony Veasna So's SONGS ON ENDLESS REPEAT for the Chicago Review of Books. I did not charge Greta Gerwig with misunderstanding Pavement in it.

My students always smile when I ask about vibes but this is not their word

hey, did we ever get an update on how this turned out

My university’s new chancellor putting on a masterclass in campus-wide announcements that only affect 1% of the campus

I wrote about Caleb Azumah Nelson's new novel SMALL WORLDS for the Brooklyn Rail. It's a great summer book, so get it now before summer's gone! brooklynrail.org/2023/09/book...

Using my new Bluesky account (thx @gillywhite8.bsky.social) to post this review of Don Paterson's TOY FIGHTS, which i liked reading as much as any book I've ever reviewed. Totally recommend. It's hilarious and brilliant. chireviewofbooks.com/2023/08/23/q...