www.commonwealmagazine.org/carpenter-an... This is an excellent article. Anne always has great insight but I think this article in particular focuses on several misconceptions the Right has with Balthasar but also provides a framework to look past it to what actually matters.

It’s funny how this was the most straightforward win for Marvel and they fucked it up

The gargoyles and grotesques on Notre-Dame Cathedral look down and see themselves in us. @theefantomas.bsky.social www.plough.com/en/topics/li...

“Yeah, I just don’t think that’s cause of Racism.” - Ancient White Proverb

Three days in and I gotta say…not a fan of 2026 so far.

I’m skeptical of how much of this can be dialed back through peaceful democratic means but at the very least every future candidate at all levels should be asked “how will you commit to reducing Executive power and overreach” and insufficient answers should be a dealbreaker.

Musings on monsters: “What is the meaning of these unclean monkeys, these strange savage lions, and monsters? To what purpose are here placed these creatures, half beast, half man, or these spotted tigers?”

Mother fuckin’ Sergio is awesome

It’s weird to watch LOTR again…I haven’t seen it in like 5 years lol

Just to be clear: Sergio is marveling at a man sleeping in his own urine on the train. It reminds me of Catherine of Siena kissing the wounds of plague victims and other insane things (love her).

“If beauty is to be true and good, then it must be for everyone. It must be difficult, or complicated, or coarse, or hard to perceive. It must be worth struggling for. And it must exist in all of us.” @theefantomas.bsky.social www.plough.com/en/topics/li...

The thing you have to understand about America is everything is terrible and won’t get better for a long time. But, for some inexplicable reason, people have faith that the system still can work through this. - me, Explaining the US to the Europeans

This was my first year teaching Adults, and teaching in France. I also got an article published in @plough.bsky.social. My French is still bad but I can function more or less. I also have finished being treated for ADHD and Depression and no longer need meds. What a year.

“The victim who is able to articulate the situation of the victim has ceased to be a victim: he or she has become a threat.” — James Baldwin, The Devil Finds Work

Wokeness has made the sweetness of dying for ones country bitter.

I wrote an article for this issue. It’s available to read if you’re inclined.

👀

The French seeing Italian Immigrants as “Good” (i.e. White) Immigrants reeks of Modernism.

An important step in getting older is realizing Carlton Banks was absolutely right to love Tom Jones’ music.

1992 roughly

Trump: “I have good genes. The best, so I have no reason to worry.” RFK: “Bird Flu is caused by exposure to Clouds and Shoelaces therefore we must kill both of them.”

Genuine question: when was the last time this strategy was actually successful?

there are 4 types of guys online. no exceptions.

The next four books I plan to read. This should carry me through this year and into the next.

A Nuanced argument for why This specific Oppression is in fact good. - Every Conservative Article

I saw the worst minds of my generation Podcasting Hysterically.

Life comes at you fast

Meanwhile NY just elected the first Muslim Mayor. He is already planning to attach a speaker to the Empire State Building for the Call to Prayer

Dick Cheney…

On the Surface, It: Welcome to Derry seems like a goofy idea but when you dive deeper you remember Stephen King has been trying to build franchise approach to his writings for decades now

In that weird spot of moving where I am establishing more of a life “here”, losing some ties from “there” but not quite settled in “either”. Some of this is organic on my part, some on others. Sometimes a mix of both. Either way, it’s a weird feeling.

Finally own this book. I first read this in Community College in 2005. Now I live in Paris, where he came many years ago and lived as well. It feels fitting to return to his essays.

Always fascinating to see how ppl engage and define the term populist

Black Mirror.

The funniest thing about Zohran is he’s not even that radical, or particularly impressive IMO. It’s just promising basic quality of life shit and not stepping on your own dick isn’t something we’re used to seeing from politicians anymore.

Gross. Imagine praying with a monarch. Couldn’t be me

One of the hard things about teaching adults in France is a lot of the wealthier white ones have a strong chance of being actually fascist and so there’s this weird game of trying to figure out if what they told me is a dog whistle or not lol

Tracing James Baldwin’s evolution from “Acceptable to Liberals” to a true Radical Critic is really a road map that few ppl engage on its own merits

Quillette, best known for posting about skull shapes and boilerplate rightwing talking points. What a despicable moron.

Shohei Ohtani is the first player with 3 homers and 10 strikeouts as a pitcher in a game Reg or post !!!

Too many literary opinions exist. Just read.

This two-parter below is exactly why it's hard to make clothes in the United States. Let's look at how much it costs to produce a button-up shirt in the US. 🧵

Today we visited the Sainte Chapelle, met the wonderful @theefantomas.bsky.social, and learned that sometimes you just have to crush a duck.

Congratulations to Venezuela on winning the Nobel Peace Prize. ❤️🇻🇪

A lot of ppl are criticizing this, but this is the Art of the Deal at work. Trump gets an Airplane and also gets to teach Qatar the proper way to exploit workers.

Me: let me know when you go out so I can watch a movie I want to rewatch. Ara: maybe I want to watch it with you. The movie: