John W Buaas
@johnwbuaas.bsky.social
Retired Prof. of English, living in Wichita KS. PhD in 20c. Am. Lit. Proud husband, father. Inordinately fond of Mexico City. Surname rhymes w/ Louis.
Books read in 2025: https://bsky.app/profile/johnwbuaas.bsky.social/post/3lerufociu22y
Books read in 2025: https://bsky.app/profile/johnwbuaas.bsky.social/post/3lerufociu22y
Reposted by John W Buaas
Roland Barthes knows what you’re up to:
November 14, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Roland Barthes knows what you’re up to:
Reposted by John W Buaas
Well that's an interesting way to cover the story, NYT.
November 14, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Well that's an interesting way to cover the story, NYT.
Reposted by John W Buaas
“Stubborn and principled often look the same, especially to those who are unprincipled.” -- Jim Ryan
November 14, 2025 at 5:13 PM
“Stubborn and principled often look the same, especially to those who are unprincipled.” -- Jim Ryan
Reposted by John W Buaas
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
I like the odds that Bondi's investigation of Dems and their supporters will turn up documents that also mention Trump.
November 14, 2025 at 11:40 PM
I like the odds that Bondi's investigation of Dems and their supporters will turn up documents that also mention Trump.
Reposted by John W Buaas
I think a lot, especially living where I do now, that Ruby Bridges (now 71) is younger than my mom.
Today I’m thinking about how she walked into William Frantz Elementary School when she was younger than my Small Niece is now.
Today I’m thinking about how she walked into William Frantz Elementary School when she was younger than my Small Niece is now.
November 14, 2025 at 4:21 PM
I think a lot, especially living where I do now, that Ruby Bridges (now 71) is younger than my mom.
Today I’m thinking about how she walked into William Frantz Elementary School when she was younger than my Small Niece is now.
Today I’m thinking about how she walked into William Frantz Elementary School when she was younger than my Small Niece is now.
Reposted by John W Buaas
I'll be in Mexico City for 16(!) days in January. It's been several years since I last visited, so I'm excited. I'll be staying near the Mon. a la Revolucion. Any recommendations from chilangos or recent visitors?
(I'm not interested in Condesa/Roma/Polanco; I don't mind walking or the Metro.)
(I'm not interested in Condesa/Roma/Polanco; I don't mind walking or the Metro.)
November 13, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I'll be in Mexico City for 16(!) days in January. It's been several years since I last visited, so I'm excited. I'll be staying near the Mon. a la Revolucion. Any recommendations from chilangos or recent visitors?
(I'm not interested in Condesa/Roma/Polanco; I don't mind walking or the Metro.)
(I'm not interested in Condesa/Roma/Polanco; I don't mind walking or the Metro.)
Devastating.
@jeffreygoldberg.bsky.social: "Do you think that JD Vance is a fascist?"
@petebuttigieg.bsky.social: "If it's convenient for him to be a fascist, he'll be a fascist."
#TribFest2025
@petebuttigieg.bsky.social: "If it's convenient for him to be a fascist, he'll be a fascist."
#TribFest2025
November 14, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Devastating.
Reposted by John W Buaas
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
Reposted by John W Buaas
The room is
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
November 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
The room is
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
Reposted by John W Buaas
Reposted by John W Buaas
anyway it's a moral imperative to not even hate-watch this stuff
November 13, 2025 at 7:10 PM
anyway it's a moral imperative to not even hate-watch this stuff
Reposted by John W Buaas
For those who wished M3GAN was an aspirational, feel-good story of capitalism done right, well...
toy company CEOs: "at long last, we have created the Sinister Talking Doll Factory from the acclaimed movie 'Don't Create the Sinister Talking Doll Factory'"
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
AI-Powered Toys Caught Telling 5-Year-Olds How to Find Knives and Start Fires With Matches
AI-powered toys are flying off the shelves -- but they're engaging in horrifically inappropriate conversations with children.
futurism.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:58 PM
For those who wished M3GAN was an aspirational, feel-good story of capitalism done right, well...
I'll be in Mexico City for 16(!) days in January. It's been several years since I last visited, so I'm excited. I'll be staying near the Mon. a la Revolucion. Any recommendations from chilangos or recent visitors?
(I'm not interested in Condesa/Roma/Polanco; I don't mind walking or the Metro.)
(I'm not interested in Condesa/Roma/Polanco; I don't mind walking or the Metro.)
November 13, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I'll be in Mexico City for 16(!) days in January. It's been several years since I last visited, so I'm excited. I'll be staying near the Mon. a la Revolucion. Any recommendations from chilangos or recent visitors?
(I'm not interested in Condesa/Roma/Polanco; I don't mind walking or the Metro.)
(I'm not interested in Condesa/Roma/Polanco; I don't mind walking or the Metro.)
"Please try our Balm of Gilead."
November 13, 2025 at 3:21 PM
"Please try our Balm of Gilead."
Reposted by John W Buaas
It's not uncommon to see weird takes on the internet but sometimes you see something that makes you realize in the flash of an instant that this person needs to be institutionalized immediately
November 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
It's not uncommon to see weird takes on the internet but sometimes you see something that makes you realize in the flash of an instant that this person needs to be institutionalized immediately
"Lies," not "Lays."
November 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM
"Lies," not "Lays."
"One of my favorite mantras is that the burden of citizenship is recognizing that what is not your fault may be your problem. The Trump voter is not our fault. It's certainly not my fault. But it is my problem."
--Anand Giridharadas
--Anand Giridharadas
November 13, 2025 at 1:10 PM
"One of my favorite mantras is that the burden of citizenship is recognizing that what is not your fault may be your problem. The Trump voter is not our fault. It's certainly not my fault. But it is my problem."
--Anand Giridharadas
--Anand Giridharadas
Reposted by John W Buaas
It is journalistic malpractice to be within a city block of Vance and not read him this tweet through a bullhorn
November 13, 2025 at 12:43 PM
It is journalistic malpractice to be within a city block of Vance and not read him this tweet through a bullhorn
Reposted by John W Buaas
astonishing that William Blake made images like this in the 1820s
might have been created in the 1890s or the 1920s or now
might have been created in the 1890s or the 1920s or now
November 12, 2025 at 10:05 AM
astonishing that William Blake made images like this in the 1820s
might have been created in the 1890s or the 1920s or now
might have been created in the 1890s or the 1920s or now
John Singer Sargent, A Dinner Table at Night (1884)
November 12, 2025 at 6:38 PM
John Singer Sargent, A Dinner Table at Night (1884)
Reposted by John W Buaas
Find here the link to live-stream Jane Goodall's memorial service today, 11am Eastern, in Washington's National Cathedral #JaneGoodall #NationalCathedral #chimpanzees #primates #anthropology #conservation
Cathedral to Host Funeral Service for Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE
Initially recognized for her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees, Dr. Goodall’s observation of tool-use in non-human animals is known as the moment that “redefined humankind.” This finding was follow...
cathedral.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Find here the link to live-stream Jane Goodall's memorial service today, 11am Eastern, in Washington's National Cathedral #JaneGoodall #NationalCathedral #chimpanzees #primates #anthropology #conservation
