James Yates
jamesyates.bsky.social
James Yates
@jamesyates.bsky.social
Writer, runner, basketball fan, baseball fan, animal lover, pessimistic optimist, he/him
Reposted by James Yates
this is why the whole “oh, suffering creates great art” thing is bullshit

you know what’s conducive to art? a roof over your head and food on the table

you know what isn’t? stressing out over where the fuck the rent money is going to come from
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.

And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
I’m constantly astounded at the sheer level of artistic production coming out of Iceland. Novels, movies, music. Amazing.
February 19, 2026 at 1:35 AM
I took a screenshot of this with the original post, because it's so beautiful, and I don't want to lose it when the OP inevitably gets deleted.
poopers, if you could poop directly into your own butt, would you do it? hashtag poopers, hashtag poopingcommunity
Writers if you could drop your novel or short story into an AI and have it make a great and watchable movie out of your story, and you could sell that movie, would you do it? #writers #WritingCommunity
February 18, 2026 at 2:05 AM
This piece is one of the best pieces of baseball writing I've ever read. It's an examination of Victor Robles through the lens of the complexities of grief, and there are too many gorgeous sentences and paragraphs to chose from for an example.
One thing I'm grateful for with the 40 in 40s is the opportunity to, during the off-season, really reflect on a player. I knew I wanted to say something about Victor Robles's suspension when it happened but I didn't know what that was until now. www.lookoutlanding.com/series-previ...
40 in 40: Victor Robles and annus horribilis, mirabilis
The grief and the glory of Victor Robles’s 2025
www.lookoutlanding.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:20 PM
I haven't felt like a writer in years, and I keep staring at these half-assed essay drafts with zero idea how to get the words flowing, but not for a half second have I thought about using AI at all, so no matter what, I'm on the right path.
February 10, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Reposted by James Yates
No Kings includes Draft Kings
February 8, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Reposted by James Yates
Looking for AWP running buddies. I'm training for my first marathon in April, and I don't want to lose any training days. So if you're cool and want to get some miles in around Baltimore, let me know. ❤️
February 7, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Looking for AWP running buddies. I'm training for my first marathon in April, and I don't want to lose any training days. So if you're cool and want to get some miles in around Baltimore, let me know. ❤️
February 7, 2026 at 9:50 PM
ACAB, but I cheer myself up by telling the nearest cat "ohhh, they're coming for you!" when I hear distant sirens.
February 2, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Even setting aside the ethics of AI: the country and the world are a horrible mess IN REALITY. The news doesn't need to be enhanced or embellished, the facts are enough to get your point across.
leftists sharing ai memes are doing everything wrong
February 2, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Reposted by James Yates
ummmm you don't understand, MY family came here legally. They had to meet rigorous requirements like, "get on a boat", and "don't shit yourself to death on the boat before it gets there"
January 29, 2026 at 1:58 AM
My Facebook feed is a mix of anti-ICE posts and videos of lion cubs in nature preserves. I'm grateful for both.
January 27, 2026 at 3:11 AM
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January 27, 2026 at 12:48 AM
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We live in a world where I have to zoom in to photos, count people’s fingers, zoom in some more, check for misspellings, and look for weird anomalies before I can even trust the image I’m seeing. And someone, there’s always someone, who is trying to say that ai has feelings. GTFOH
January 26, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Hannah and I watched "Wake Up Dead Man" last night, and Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc brings me so much more joy than I can explain.
January 26, 2026 at 5:16 PM
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I hope you’re giving money to Minnesota businesses and folks affected by ICE, or speaking up, or contacting your reps relentlessly. I hope you are an annoying fly on the flank of the American regime. But I hope you are doing something right now.
January 25, 2026 at 12:13 PM
You can't judge people based on looks, but I'm seeing more and more white frat boy/himbo-looking guys on Instagram speaking out against ICE and the administration, and goddamn good on them for subverting expectations and using their platforms for good.
January 23, 2026 at 3:59 PM
This is why I love following trans and queer and progressive baseball fans/writers. Yes, a good majority of ballplayers are right wingers, but the game itself is followed and cherished by better people.
This analysis confirms what we very much already knew, but in case there are any baseball fans still under any illusions about the player population, this should dispel those.

votehub.com/2026/01/20/t...
January 22, 2026 at 4:35 PM
I know the Oscars have their issues, but goddamn if I wasn't thrilled to see Delroy Lindo nominated for "Sinners."
January 22, 2026 at 2:15 PM
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how’s it goin? oh, ya know.
January 21, 2026 at 12:31 AM
I'll take it. I'm not happy with Democratic leadership overall, but I'm glad Spanberger took a stand. We need more tangible pushback nationwide, and it shouldn't solely fall on regular citizens putting themselves in danger.
January 17, 2026 at 9:15 PM
I haven't smoked in almost two years, but had a very vivid dream that I was outside, under an awning, smoking a cigarette in the rain. Not gonna lie, it was peaceful. But no, not going back.
January 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by James Yates
one of the few positives of these past weeks is seeing truly how much people do want to be a community that helps one another
January 15, 2026 at 5:38 PM
I really wish I remember who wrote this years ago, but the best take on "Dilbert" was along the lines of it being approved corporate humor, a la "have your chuckle, then get back to work."
January 13, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Rob Perillo in Lafayette is a treasure. A delightful meteorologist, AND constantly shutting down mouthbreathers online whenever he discusses the ramifications of climate change.
They should have a Patreon but just for your local tv weatherperson, I want my weatherman to have some walking around money
January 12, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Really not a fan of living in these times, keeping up on terrible news, AND having to pause and wonder if a given post about said news is AI-generated.
January 11, 2026 at 2:16 PM