The final Calvin and Hobbes, which appeared in papers 30 years ago today.

A pair of happy hammerhead sharks (ca. 1735 Edo period Japan)

As of 12/24/25, USPS changed policy on when they postmark mail. Mail dropped off is no longer guaranteed a same-day postmark. Tax returns & other time-sensitive items are now stamped when they reach a regional processing center, which may be days later. Plan deadlines accordingly to avoid penalties.

Felix Vallotton's picture (1905) is of his wife Gabrielle. When they married in 1898, he quit printmaking which had brought him success and devoted himself to painting, developing the disquieting style which defines the many pictures he produced in the final 25 years of his life.

Here’s to 2026

what's fun is you could go to researched articles from PEN (pen.org/report/readi...) that discusses diversity of publishing workforce and how that impacts whose books get published; from the New York Times in 2020 (www.nytimes.com/interactive/...) or use anecdotal evidence that confirms your biases

With Will's great 12/25 essay on Pentiment the 2025 Advent Calendar concludes. We will continue to publish essays on visual media (games, TV, film, art) into 2026, so pitch us if you want to write one: www.essaydaily.org/p/the-essay-...

Hilarious that they’re bothering to dispute this because whether or not the letter is real, we’ve known the substance of it was true since the Access Hollywood tape in 2016

The survey is open to non-members (I am not one) and to readers (who here is not &c.) so I encourage you to share your feelings on the matter. Don't assume that everyone already understands that AI is bad or why! I mean, people *should*, but you could say that about a lot of things.

🤔

Does anyone have a rain coat they particularly like? An actual rainproof one?

Ok. Now had a chance to check and, well, at least some docs do appear to be straight up classic redaction fail. And there are some *interesting* bits here. www.justice.gov/multimedia/C...

Does anyone have a rain coat they particularly like? An actual rainproof one?

CBS didn't run the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT, but over here at @propublica.org we've been working on the story since March, including finding out who each and every man sent to that maximum security prison was. You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...

what the fuck, this should be a much bigger story (and the headline here should have more fuck words in it) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/h...

Hearing murmurs that publishing houses are pushing editors to use AI in their work. How can writers help employees push back against this? If you work in publishing & don’t feel comfortable replying directly, I am opening up my DMs.

Ok, @erikaswyler.bsky.social sent me an insta reel about how diabolical shetland ponies are, and the comments are too good not to share. "True. Mine was named Duke…he was not for the faint hearted! He loved to eat Fatima Turkish Cigarettes and lived into his late 30’s "

ok WOW

To all the young people in New York and across our country who count on gender-affirming care: I won't let this administration come for you, your doctors, or your lifesaving health care.  Your health care is still legal and protected.  I'll always fight for you.

I had to stop watching Weapons (to go to bed) last night 30 minutes before the end and I am going to be losing my mind all day until I get to watch the rest

Every trans person--including every trans child--deserves the chance to be fully themselves. I'm so sick of seeing trans folks harmed repeatedly and unrelentingly, against all reason and scientific precedent. To my trans friends--I'm so sorry the world keeps trying to dim your light.

New website/logo for The Rumpus! therumpus.net I hope you check it out!

Do you think Steven Spielberg was pissed about all the clicky talking in Alien: Earth?

Does anyone know if we have samsara tomorrow?

It's not lost on me that all major publications are axing their culture sections and ending their arts coverage, when moments like this one make it blindingly clear that art and storytelling are the only things that still have a hope of uniting us and clarifying what shared values we still have.

12 dead at a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.💔 A 43-year-old father of two, Ahmed al Ahmed, snuck up & tackled a gunman to disarm him. Ahmed was shot twice. Both Jewish & Muslim faiths teach that “to save one life is to save all humanity.” Let us hold fast to our humanity.❤️

This is your annual reminder that if you are in the US and have FSA funds that you won't use, Menstrual products are covered by FSA funds and can be donated to food pantries and shelters.

I understand that a lot of folks have been misled by fear-mongering and powerful regressive voices but it’s still astonishing to me that so many have fallen for the idea that oppressively policing other people’s gender identity and expression could in any way be part of an enlightened future.

Ours were all terracotta colored

100% the screaming joyful crowd at Magic Mike XXL

Does anyone who loves P.G. Wodehouse have strong opinions on the Psmith, Journalist series? I never got into them, but I am looking for a gift for someone who's read all of Jeeves and Blandings (and possibly more).

Strange Horizons is still open to fiction submissions from Indigenous authors! More info about this submission window: strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no... Submission guidelines: strangehorizons.com/submit/ficti... We look forward to reading your stories!

I wrote about why RFK Jr is a menace to people with chronic illnesses for the San Francisco Chronicle. Link: www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open... Free link: archive.ph/KPhx4 ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TELL YOUR REPS TO IMPEACH THIS GUY

My first book pubs today, and among other things it is a love letter to Chicago — the city and the communities that have been a tenth muse for me. Margaret C. Anderson's story is also, I hope, a reminder that good art requires taking big risks. www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Dang...

My latest essay in @altajournal, on birthright citizenship and Lisa See's epic family history, ON GOLD MOUNTAIN. www.altaonline.com/california-b...

Hey peeps, many library cards will give you free access to Kanopy! Here are some horror movies they have in their library: The Vourdalak, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Train to Busan, Exhuma, Let the Right One In, The Wicker Man, Birth/Rebirth, Titane, Late Night With the Devil, Ganja & Hess.

Proud of Tucson Last night peaceful protesters march against ICE and the pepper spraying of Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva yesterday while trying to help her constituents with 40 masked ICE AGENTS. Without due process raid South Tucson businesses Call Your Reps 202 224-3121 ICE BRUTALITY

we’ve been working on this for months—introducing a new teaching collective ✨ starting 2/4, Fatimah Asghar, @ingridrojasc.bsky.social, & I will offer generative & workshop-based classes! In fiction, nonfiction, & poetry! theministryofwords.com

Just got cyber Monday spam that said: LAST CHANCE, EVERYTHING IS ENDING, and you know what, read the room cyber Monday, that's not news to anyone

On several personal matters: jfc why is everything LIKE this

Today I bought hot chocolate from some kids with a stand near my house, and then, for reasons unknown, I said “I love to see young entrepreneurs!” And was so baffled to have said that that I walked away audibly muttering, “What the fuck are you TALKING about?”

Today I bought hot chocolate from some kids with a stand near my house, and then, for reasons unknown, I said “I love to see young entrepreneurs!” And was so baffled to have said that that I walked away audibly muttering, “What the fuck are you TALKING about?”

I want to love the holiday Bake-Off episodes because I want maximal holiday cheer, but I can’t get it up for British soap opera stars

Having remembered that I, too, am a Small Business, I am running a flash sale on editing services. Book and make your deposit this weekend and receive 10% off. More info on what I do here: www.kathowardbooks.com/editing

Arcadia was the play that made me love theatre as a literary art

The OpenAI ruling writers should know about 👀 (if your work was scraped for LLM training, this affects you). www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...

It’s hard to be on the west coast on thanksgiving, I’m so hungry

Hi CNF writers with a book, if you're interested in teaching a 1-1 for the next two to three years while you're hopefully working on your next book and want to live in the Twin Cities, please consider applying to be our next writer in residence: hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/371...

I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.

Happy prepare-your-pie-dough day to all who celebrate