Darby Lyons
@darbylyons.bsky.social
Retired English teacher, poet. Book and music lover. Midwesterner, kind of (Army brat, IYKYK), with Appalachian roots. MFA, Sewanee School of Letters. Senior editorial assistant, Cincinnati Review.
Pinned
Darby Lyons
@darbylyons.bsky.social
· Nov 17
"Break out the champagne
If this's really how it's gonna go
Let's get on with the shitshow
Let's get on with the show"
~Amanda Shires, "Break Out the Champagne"
If this's really how it's gonna go
Let's get on with the shitshow
Let's get on with the show"
~Amanda Shires, "Break Out the Champagne"
When someone says "Everyone's disagreeing with me publicly, but I've received many private messages in agreement," I just don't believe them. Yes, this is a subskeet.
January 1, 2026 at 12:33 AM
When someone says "Everyone's disagreeing with me publicly, but I've received many private messages in agreement," I just don't believe them. Yes, this is a subskeet.
Reposted by Darby Lyons
When you get the reputation of being the guy with the encouraging words on New Year's Eve, it can start to come through as a little pressure -- what if the situation on the ground is worse than usual? what if people are more scared than they usually are, and with cause? what use are good vibes then?
December 31, 2025 at 11:21 PM
When you get the reputation of being the guy with the encouraging words on New Year's Eve, it can start to come through as a little pressure -- what if the situation on the ground is worse than usual? what if people are more scared than they usually are, and with cause? what use are good vibes then?
If you see this, post a random image from your device.
December 31, 2025 at 11:23 PM
If you see this, post a random image from your device.
In a dream I had last night, some people I worked with were discussing whether it was okay to make guillotine jokes. I asked why they assumed people were joking.
"What a year for the ultra wealthy. The world’s 500 richest people added a record $2.2 trillion to their collective fortunes in 2025’s… booming markets, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. And about a quarter of this year’s gains went to just eight billionaires.” — Bloomberg Morning Brief
December 31, 2025 at 1:55 PM
In a dream I had last night, some people I worked with were discussing whether it was okay to make guillotine jokes. I asked why they assumed people were joking.
Reposted by Darby Lyons
Heartbreaking news for any of us who were lucky enough to know Tatiana. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/u...
Tatiana Schlossberg, Kennedy Daughter Who Wrote of Her Cancer, Dies at 35
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Heartbreaking news for any of us who were lucky enough to know Tatiana. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/u...
Reposted by Darby Lyons
It’s still the Kennedy Center
It’s still the Gulf of Mexico
It’s still the Department of Defense
It’s still Twitter
If you have any other Q’s feel free to ask us
It’s still the Gulf of Mexico
It’s still the Department of Defense
It’s still Twitter
If you have any other Q’s feel free to ask us
December 30, 2025 at 4:37 PM
It’s still the Kennedy Center
It’s still the Gulf of Mexico
It’s still the Department of Defense
It’s still Twitter
If you have any other Q’s feel free to ask us
It’s still the Gulf of Mexico
It’s still the Department of Defense
It’s still Twitter
If you have any other Q’s feel free to ask us
Reposted by Darby Lyons
Under this framework, Jim Crow was ok, slavery was ok, the forced removal of indigenous people was ok, etc. There are certain things even when passed through liberal democratic means are illiberal and should never be allowed.
She helped pass a bill—which is 100% part of liberalism. Maybe you don’t like the bill. Maybe the bill will hurt some people and have bad outcomes. But that’s part of liberal democracy.
December 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Under this framework, Jim Crow was ok, slavery was ok, the forced removal of indigenous people was ok, etc. There are certain things even when passed through liberal democratic means are illiberal and should never be allowed.
Omg, @netflix.com that huge Members Only Palm Beach promo on my screen first thing in the morning is horrifying .
December 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Omg, @netflix.com that huge Members Only Palm Beach promo on my screen first thing in the morning is horrifying .
Reposted by Darby Lyons
Apparently I'm doing this -- my open letter to that open latter about AI in writing and publishing. I emerged from Hibernation Week to write it, so god only knows how much sense it makes. But at least a human wrote it, so that's nice.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
My Open Letter To That Open Letter About AI In Writing And Publishing
The tl;dr before you get into this post is this: the SFWA came out, said that some AI usage was okay enough in books for the authors of those books to not to be disqualified from winning a Nebula a…
terribleminds.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Apparently I'm doing this -- my open letter to that open latter about AI in writing and publishing. I emerged from Hibernation Week to write it, so god only knows how much sense it makes. But at least a human wrote it, so that's nice.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
Bonus: picture of my "cat," sweet baby Boomba.
The problem with this is that Norwood is not a Cincinnati neighborhood. It's a completely separate city. It has its own government, police, fire, etc. I'd expect City Beat to know that.
All of Greater Cincinnati's neighborhoods have their own unique charm.
These are the Best Neighborhoods in Cincinnati, According to CityBeat Readers
These are the best Greater Cincinnati neighborhoods, according to CItyBeat readers in our 2025 Best of Cincinnnati poll.
www.citybeat.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:34 AM
The problem with this is that Norwood is not a Cincinnati neighborhood. It's a completely separate city. It has its own government, police, fire, etc. I'd expect City Beat to know that.
Reposted by Darby Lyons
I don't think you could come up with a list more designed to inflame sentiments than "here is a list of things that publishers MUST use AI to do and remain competitive, but don't worry, this isn't pushing out creative labor"
Erin Underwood: Open Letter to the Science Fiction Writers Association and Community on AI
file770.com/erin-underwo...
Erin's core thesis is "There are responsible ways to use AI that support creators without replacing creative labor."
file770.com/erin-underwo...
Erin's core thesis is "There are responsible ways to use AI that support creators without replacing creative labor."
Erin Underwood: Open Letter to the Science Fiction Writers Association and Community
Hi Friends, Erin Underwood After writing the letter below, I thought rather than sending it to SFWA only, I’d share it with Mike at File 770 along with a note that read: “Am I crazy? Will this blow…
file770.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I don't think you could come up with a list more designed to inflame sentiments than "here is a list of things that publishers MUST use AI to do and remain competitive, but don't worry, this isn't pushing out creative labor"
Yes, of course. Why would anyone even need to ask?
Their son had a “raging fit” about his parents’ tight relationship with his cheating ex-girlfriend. After a 14-year relationship, do they just drop this woman who became a part of their lives?
Column | Asking Eric: Parents stayed close with son’s ex after she cheated
Son had a “raging fit” about his parents’ tight relationship with his cheating ex-girlfriend.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 28, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Yes, of course. Why would anyone even need to ask?
Reposted by Darby Lyons
A gorgeously-written book about wolves & caribou & cold and warming & indigeneity & how to ask questions & when not to & how to see loss & how to witness the beautiful. I knew Neil just a bit years ago, & know his brilliant prose, too hidden, I thought, in Nat Geo. Here is the work unfiltered.
December 27, 2025 at 4:54 PM
A gorgeously-written book about wolves & caribou & cold and warming & indigeneity & how to ask questions & when not to & how to see loss & how to witness the beautiful. I knew Neil just a bit years ago, & know his brilliant prose, too hidden, I thought, in Nat Geo. Here is the work unfiltered.
This. Is. Not. News.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, announced on Friday that she was pregnant with a daughter who is due in May.
Karoline Leavitt Says She’s Expecting Her Second Child
The White House press secretary announced on Instagram that she was pregnant with a daughter who is due in May. She and her husband have a 1-year-old son.
nyti.ms
December 27, 2025 at 5:29 PM
This. Is. Not. News.
Today I'm rooting for Penn State because their starting QB, Ethan Grunkemeyer, is the son of one of my former students! It's a tough call bc another of my former students works at Clemson, but I think family trumps employment? 😎
December 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Today I'm rooting for Penn State because their starting QB, Ethan Grunkemeyer, is the son of one of my former students! It's a tough call bc another of my former students works at Clemson, but I think family trumps employment? 😎
This is so astoundingly wrong and illogically argued that it's almost funny. But only almost.
America, you have spoken loud and clear: You do not like AI. But what if AI is the way to restart the world’s idea machine?
We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.
What if the best use of AI is restarting the world’s idea machine?
www.vox.com
December 25, 2025 at 11:33 PM
This is so astoundingly wrong and illogically argued that it's almost funny. But only almost.
Reposted by Darby Lyons
I can’t believe they’re doing this to the only person on earth who’s won the FIFA peace prize.
President Trump’s spiteful defamation suit against the Pulitzer Prize Board may backfire, as the latter is now demanding Trump’s psychological records, prescription medication records, and tax returns in the discovery process. trib.al/LUCScTR
December 25, 2025 at 10:46 PM
I can’t believe they’re doing this to the only person on earth who’s won the FIFA peace prize.
Reposted by Darby Lyons
My favorite couple enjoying Christmas ❤️🎁❤️
December 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
My favorite couple enjoying Christmas ❤️🎁❤️
A favorite photo from December 2020, taken on the Ida Street bridge in Mt Adams.
December 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
A favorite photo from December 2020, taken on the Ida Street bridge in Mt Adams.
Here we go... getting Christmassy!
Hope your day is what you need it to be.
Hope your day is what you need it to be.
a woman in a santa costume is dancing in a kitchen with the words holiday spirit activate yes below her
Alt: a woman in a santa costume is dancing in a kitchen with the words holiday spirit activate yes below her
media.tenor.com
December 25, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Here we go... getting Christmassy!
Hope your day is what you need it to be.
Hope your day is what you need it to be.
"I hope you have a really
A really, really, Willie nice Christmas
And may we all stay higher than the angel on top of the tree"
youtu.be/lwCHXJojyys?...
A really, really, Willie nice Christmas
And may we all stay higher than the angel on top of the tree"
youtu.be/lwCHXJojyys?...
Kacey Musgraves - A Willie Nice Christmas (Official Audio)
YouTube video by KaceyMusgravesVEVO
youtu.be
December 25, 2025 at 3:30 AM
"I hope you have a really
A really, really, Willie nice Christmas
And may we all stay higher than the angel on top of the tree"
youtu.be/lwCHXJojyys?...
A really, really, Willie nice Christmas
And may we all stay higher than the angel on top of the tree"
youtu.be/lwCHXJojyys?...
I tried watching Goodbye June. Sorry, nope. I don't need to watch selfish people fight over their mom's death. Is my family abnormal? Because we don't fight over the really serious stuff like that. We fight over which football team to cheer for or which route to take to the store.
December 24, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I tried watching Goodbye June. Sorry, nope. I don't need to watch selfish people fight over their mom's death. Is my family abnormal? Because we don't fight over the really serious stuff like that. We fight over which football team to cheer for or which route to take to the store.
Reposted by Darby Lyons
"I have also felt as if one warm breath might drop me,
but here I am still standing."
but here I am still standing."
December 23, 2025 at 4:14 PM
"I have also felt as if one warm breath might drop me,
but here I am still standing."
but here I am still standing."
Last winter, I started rewatching ER, but when I got "Love's Labor Lost," I couldn't go on. Finally got back to it recently. Season 3, episode 1...Omar Epps as Dr Gant shows up, and now I know there's another impossible to rewatch episode coming up before too long. That pager...it haunts me.
December 24, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Last winter, I started rewatching ER, but when I got "Love's Labor Lost," I couldn't go on. Finally got back to it recently. Season 3, episode 1...Omar Epps as Dr Gant shows up, and now I know there's another impossible to rewatch episode coming up before too long. That pager...it haunts me.