Brian Urlacher (aka Grant Forks)
@grantforks.bsky.social
Scholar of conflict management. I spell things wrong.
Fiction: https://thedigitalpress.org/the-library-of-chester-fritz/
More Fiction: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DV3D3LHV?binding=kindle_edition
Nonfiction: http://youtube.com/c/BrianUrlacher
Fiction: https://thedigitalpress.org/the-library-of-chester-fritz/
More Fiction: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DV3D3LHV?binding=kindle_edition
Nonfiction: http://youtube.com/c/BrianUrlacher
This is exactly the right analysis. You can only spread your solid majority of voters out so far before small swings in the electorate start to affect things…and we are looking at a big swing!
They're terrified of a blowout in the midterms. Gerrymander can take seats, but you have to lower your per-district margin. A safe 7-2 is better than a tenuous 9-0 that becomes 4-5 in a +D wave
Looks like it's going down big time
December 11, 2025 at 10:02 PM
This is exactly the right analysis. You can only spread your solid majority of voters out so far before small swings in the electorate start to affect things…and we are looking at a big swing!
Reposted by Brian Urlacher (aka Grant Forks)
They're terrified of a blowout in the midterms. Gerrymander can take seats, but you have to lower your per-district margin. A safe 7-2 is better than a tenuous 9-0 that becomes 4-5 in a +D wave
Looks like it's going down big time
December 11, 2025 at 9:52 PM
They're terrified of a blowout in the midterms. Gerrymander can take seats, but you have to lower your per-district margin. A safe 7-2 is better than a tenuous 9-0 that becomes 4-5 in a +D wave
Reposted by Brian Urlacher (aka Grant Forks)
"Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?"
- Henry Ward Beecherr
#booksky #bookstore #indiebooks #tbr #books #writingcommunity #morebooks #IllJustGetOne #AndOtherLiesWeTell
- Henry Ward Beecherr
#booksky #bookstore #indiebooks #tbr #books #writingcommunity #morebooks #IllJustGetOne #AndOtherLiesWeTell
a woman in a library with a tote bag that says ' nlg ' on it
Alt: Gif is of a woman in a corridor of books, grabbing them randomly and stuffing them into a tote bag.
media.tenor.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:06 PM
"Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?"
- Henry Ward Beecherr
#booksky #bookstore #indiebooks #tbr #books #writingcommunity #morebooks #IllJustGetOne #AndOtherLiesWeTell
- Henry Ward Beecherr
#booksky #bookstore #indiebooks #tbr #books #writingcommunity #morebooks #IllJustGetOne #AndOtherLiesWeTell
Reposted by Brian Urlacher (aka Grant Forks)
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
'Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas being transported to Fossanova Abbey.'
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
December 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
This feels like an evergreen post!
Okay what have I missed while I've been dean-ing?!
December 11, 2025 at 2:56 AM
This feels like an evergreen post!
Tonight I came home and looked at my fridge and realized it was covered in photos of family and friends and kids.
One of the most painful daily symbols of divorce was a blank fridge door. It took 3 years but I’ve rebuilt a life—a good life.
One of the most painful daily symbols of divorce was a blank fridge door. It took 3 years but I’ve rebuilt a life—a good life.
December 7, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Tonight I came home and looked at my fridge and realized it was covered in photos of family and friends and kids.
One of the most painful daily symbols of divorce was a blank fridge door. It took 3 years but I’ve rebuilt a life—a good life.
One of the most painful daily symbols of divorce was a blank fridge door. It took 3 years but I’ve rebuilt a life—a good life.
Have you tried Bucatini pasta?
You shouldn’t. It’s terrible. Just a ridiculous, impractical, and unsatisfying concept.
Someone needed to say it.
You shouldn’t. It’s terrible. Just a ridiculous, impractical, and unsatisfying concept.
Someone needed to say it.
December 6, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Have you tried Bucatini pasta?
You shouldn’t. It’s terrible. Just a ridiculous, impractical, and unsatisfying concept.
Someone needed to say it.
You shouldn’t. It’s terrible. Just a ridiculous, impractical, and unsatisfying concept.
Someone needed to say it.
So we just take it for granted that the GOP can’t sustain a speaker for more than a couple years without an internal revolt.
But we never see this kind of chaos within the Democratic Party and it goes totally unremarked upon
So I am remarking upon it.
But we never see this kind of chaos within the Democratic Party and it goes totally unremarked upon
So I am remarking upon it.
Why the fuck does he even want this job
Speaking of that why does he even need a job he doesn't have a bank account apparently
Speaking of that why does he even need a job he doesn't have a bank account apparently
Mike Johnson’s press clips today are next level
December 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
So we just take it for granted that the GOP can’t sustain a speaker for more than a couple years without an internal revolt.
But we never see this kind of chaos within the Democratic Party and it goes totally unremarked upon
So I am remarking upon it.
But we never see this kind of chaos within the Democratic Party and it goes totally unremarked upon
So I am remarking upon it.
Reposted by Brian Urlacher (aka Grant Forks)
pop quiz
If someone says that they like something and your response is "Really? Because it's actually awful," what precisely do you think is going to happen next?
If someone says that they like something and your response is "Really? Because it's actually awful," what precisely do you think is going to happen next?
December 5, 2025 at 3:59 AM
pop quiz
If someone says that they like something and your response is "Really? Because it's actually awful," what precisely do you think is going to happen next?
If someone says that they like something and your response is "Really? Because it's actually awful," what precisely do you think is going to happen next?
This works and it is important.
Also, I discovered that my writing voice is Winston Churchill…because that is the persona I affect when reading my proofs aloud.
Also, I discovered that my writing voice is Winston Churchill…because that is the persona I affect when reading my proofs aloud.
December 5, 2025 at 4:45 AM
This works and it is important.
Also, I discovered that my writing voice is Winston Churchill…because that is the persona I affect when reading my proofs aloud.
Also, I discovered that my writing voice is Winston Churchill…because that is the persona I affect when reading my proofs aloud.
I’m begging the internet to understand that GOP gerrymandering doesn’t make districts impossible for Dems to win. It makes it impossible for Dems to lose the districts they have. There are diminishing returns and the more the GOP gerrymanders the more competative their districts become.
December 3, 2025 at 6:07 AM
I’m begging the internet to understand that GOP gerrymandering doesn’t make districts impossible for Dems to win. It makes it impossible for Dems to lose the districts they have. There are diminishing returns and the more the GOP gerrymanders the more competative their districts become.
If we as a society need to find productivity gains for white collar workers, might I suggest operating systems that don’t take an hour to update every week or two.
Seems like a more guaranteed source of gains than AI something something.
Seems like a more guaranteed source of gains than AI something something.
November 26, 2025 at 3:40 PM
If we as a society need to find productivity gains for white collar workers, might I suggest operating systems that don’t take an hour to update every week or two.
Seems like a more guaranteed source of gains than AI something something.
Seems like a more guaranteed source of gains than AI something something.
Reposted by Brian Urlacher (aka Grant Forks)
You may be cool, but you'll never be as cool as these two cats wearing sunglasses in the window of an optician's Boulevard St Germain in 1925
November 26, 2025 at 10:43 AM
You may be cool, but you'll never be as cool as these two cats wearing sunglasses in the window of an optician's Boulevard St Germain in 1925
I do the thanksgiving cooking in my family although my mom buys the bird. I keep asking for 2, 10-12 lbs turkeys. But once again we are going to roll the dice with a 20 pounder.
Did my dad seriously burn himself 10 years ago? He did.
Why are we doing this nonsense?
Something something pilgrims.
Did my dad seriously burn himself 10 years ago? He did.
Why are we doing this nonsense?
Something something pilgrims.
November 24, 2025 at 6:24 AM
I do the thanksgiving cooking in my family although my mom buys the bird. I keep asking for 2, 10-12 lbs turkeys. But once again we are going to roll the dice with a 20 pounder.
Did my dad seriously burn himself 10 years ago? He did.
Why are we doing this nonsense?
Something something pilgrims.
Did my dad seriously burn himself 10 years ago? He did.
Why are we doing this nonsense?
Something something pilgrims.
It was not super encouraging when at the one public reading of my novel, my editor commented “I didn’t realize your book was that funny!”
To be fair it isn’t all that funnny but I’m damn good at delivering a dry joke. People often describe me as the Merlot of rye.
To be fair it isn’t all that funnny but I’m damn good at delivering a dry joke. People often describe me as the Merlot of rye.
November 24, 2025 at 6:12 AM
It was not super encouraging when at the one public reading of my novel, my editor commented “I didn’t realize your book was that funny!”
To be fair it isn’t all that funnny but I’m damn good at delivering a dry joke. People often describe me as the Merlot of rye.
To be fair it isn’t all that funnny but I’m damn good at delivering a dry joke. People often describe me as the Merlot of rye.
I have been working steadily on my negotiations book project since sept 1.
I’ve gained 20,000 words in 3 months mostly by writing one night a week at a pub and then editing the next morning. If this is what it takes to write my professional opus by August I’m willing to do the hard work. 🍻
I’ve gained 20,000 words in 3 months mostly by writing one night a week at a pub and then editing the next morning. If this is what it takes to write my professional opus by August I’m willing to do the hard work. 🍻
November 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
I have been working steadily on my negotiations book project since sept 1.
I’ve gained 20,000 words in 3 months mostly by writing one night a week at a pub and then editing the next morning. If this is what it takes to write my professional opus by August I’m willing to do the hard work. 🍻
I’ve gained 20,000 words in 3 months mostly by writing one night a week at a pub and then editing the next morning. If this is what it takes to write my professional opus by August I’m willing to do the hard work. 🍻
Reposted by Brian Urlacher (aka Grant Forks)
KPOP Demon Hunters is a movie about the importance of effective public health communication in this essay I will...
November 23, 2025 at 1:36 PM
KPOP Demon Hunters is a movie about the importance of effective public health communication in this essay I will...
Roommate came home and said “I’m going to study abroad in Germany with the political science department and you should too.”
“Crap I thought, I’d need to get another roommate. I guess I’ll become a political scientist” (there were other steps involved but they were pretty mundane)
“Crap I thought, I’d need to get another roommate. I guess I’ll become a political scientist” (there were other steps involved but they were pretty mundane)
November 23, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Roommate came home and said “I’m going to study abroad in Germany with the political science department and you should too.”
“Crap I thought, I’d need to get another roommate. I guess I’ll become a political scientist” (there were other steps involved but they were pretty mundane)
“Crap I thought, I’d need to get another roommate. I guess I’ll become a political scientist” (there were other steps involved but they were pretty mundane)
Reposted by Brian Urlacher (aka Grant Forks)
This is what meeting the moment looks like.
The President of the United States just called for Democratic members of Congress to be executed. "HANG THEM", he posted.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
If you're a person of influence in this country and you haven't picked a side, maybe now would be the time to pick a fucking side.
November 20, 2025 at 7:43 PM
This is what meeting the moment looks like.
Serving as associate dean has been both enjoyable and intense. But the biggest challenge is that my teaching load has not gone down and my research has ramped up 😬
The good news is there were 6.5 hours a day I had previously used for so called “sleep”.
The good news is there were 6.5 hours a day I had previously used for so called “sleep”.
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Serving as associate dean has been both enjoyable and intense. But the biggest challenge is that my teaching load has not gone down and my research has ramped up 😬
The good news is there were 6.5 hours a day I had previously used for so called “sleep”.
The good news is there were 6.5 hours a day I had previously used for so called “sleep”.
For context the USSR had about 70k casualties over a 10 year period in Afghanistan…and that was on a significantly larger population base!
"Before November ends, Russia will probably suffer its millionth casualty since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, based on current trends of about 1,000-1,200 soldiers killed or injured every day."
Vladimir Putin’s sickening statistic: 1m Russian casualties in Ukraine
His regime uses payouts to salve Russian families’ grief
www.economist.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:33 AM
For context the USSR had about 70k casualties over a 10 year period in Afghanistan…and that was on a significantly larger population base!
Reading Project Hail Mary, which is a great “Hard SciFi” book, but Andy Weir magically wishes away politics
We need a category of “Hard PoliSciFi” for books that recognize politics as a real constraint to be navigated
As an example Charles Wilson’s Spin manages both hard SciFi and hard PoliSciFi
We need a category of “Hard PoliSciFi” for books that recognize politics as a real constraint to be navigated
As an example Charles Wilson’s Spin manages both hard SciFi and hard PoliSciFi
November 9, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Reading Project Hail Mary, which is a great “Hard SciFi” book, but Andy Weir magically wishes away politics
We need a category of “Hard PoliSciFi” for books that recognize politics as a real constraint to be navigated
As an example Charles Wilson’s Spin manages both hard SciFi and hard PoliSciFi
We need a category of “Hard PoliSciFi” for books that recognize politics as a real constraint to be navigated
As an example Charles Wilson’s Spin manages both hard SciFi and hard PoliSciFi
eading Project Hail Mary, which is a great “Hard SciFi” book…but Andy Weir magically wishes away politics.
We need a category of “Hard PoliSciFi” for books that recognize politics as a real constraint to be navigated.
As an example Charles Wilson’s Spin manages both hard SciFi and hard PoliSciFi
We need a category of “Hard PoliSciFi” for books that recognize politics as a real constraint to be navigated.
As an example Charles Wilson’s Spin manages both hard SciFi and hard PoliSciFi
November 9, 2025 at 11:39 PM
eading Project Hail Mary, which is a great “Hard SciFi” book…but Andy Weir magically wishes away politics.
We need a category of “Hard PoliSciFi” for books that recognize politics as a real constraint to be navigated.
As an example Charles Wilson’s Spin manages both hard SciFi and hard PoliSciFi
We need a category of “Hard PoliSciFi” for books that recognize politics as a real constraint to be navigated.
As an example Charles Wilson’s Spin manages both hard SciFi and hard PoliSciFi
This was one of the plot holes in breaking bad. Why an elaborate plan to steal methlamine from a train rather than putting in an online order on Alibaba
Record levels of meth are flooding Asia. This doesn't just mirror the fentanyl crisis in the Americas; it's directly linked. The companies supplying Mexican cartels are the same as those supplying Myanmar warlords.
A year-long investigation out on the @washingtonpost.com now:
wapo.st/3LmdDdo
A year-long investigation out on the @washingtonpost.com now:
wapo.st/3LmdDdo
China’s chemical exports are behind a ‘tsunami’ of meth flooding Asia
Chinese manufacturers are shipping meth precursor chemicals to warlords in Myanmar, precipitating a drug crisis across the Asia-Pacific, a Post investigation finds.
wapo.st
November 8, 2025 at 2:35 PM
This was one of the plot holes in breaking bad. Why an elaborate plan to steal methlamine from a train rather than putting in an online order on Alibaba