Purely Speculative
@joleigh.bsky.social
A mostly lurking book gremlin.
she/her
she/her
Reposted by Purely Speculative
Abolish ICE. Shut down Dilley. Defund and shut down CoreCivic.
This is 18-mo-old Amalia waving to me when she was detained.
She was hospitalized with a respiratory infection while at ICE’s Dilley facility for immigrant families.
She’s one of dozens of detainees who I spoke to via video and phone calls, letters and an in-person visit. 🧵1/
She was hospitalized with a respiratory infection while at ICE’s Dilley facility for immigrant families.
She’s one of dozens of detainees who I spoke to via video and phone calls, letters and an in-person visit. 🧵1/
February 9, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Abolish ICE. Shut down Dilley. Defund and shut down CoreCivic.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
Everyone celebrating or encouraging athletes in men’s sports for coming out post-Heated Rivalry need to understand the context the show exists in. This soccer ref went viral for proposing to his fiancé on the pitch & then they were assaulted in their home after receiving threats.
Bi Soccer Referee Pascal Kaiser Attacked Following Viral Public Proposal
Kaiser said that he had received threats containing his address.
www.them.us
February 9, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Everyone celebrating or encouraging athletes in men’s sports for coming out post-Heated Rivalry need to understand the context the show exists in. This soccer ref went viral for proposing to his fiancé on the pitch & then they were assaulted in their home after receiving threats.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
The Heritage Foundation has released a 250-year roadmap to “save America.”
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
They're Coming for Our Daughters
The conservative plan to shrink girls’ futures
jessica.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:22 PM
The Heritage Foundation has released a 250-year roadmap to “save America.”
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
Reposted by Purely Speculative
This song "Yo Perreo Sola" is an anthem about women's right to throw ass in the club without men creeping on them
February 9, 2026 at 3:01 AM
This song "Yo Perreo Sola" is an anthem about women's right to throw ass in the club without men creeping on them
Reposted by Purely Speculative
Happy seventh annual Laura Dern Day, please be reminded that you are LEGALLY OBLIGATED to watch this masterpiece *at least* once today!
February 9, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Happy seventh annual Laura Dern Day, please be reminded that you are LEGALLY OBLIGATED to watch this masterpiece *at least* once today!
Reposted by Purely Speculative
Like seriously, rewatch the Ring ad. It's worth outlawing and then breaking up Amazon. This is surveillance state technology the worst authoritarian dictatorships of the past always dreamed of.
February 9, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Like seriously, rewatch the Ring ad. It's worth outlawing and then breaking up Amazon. This is surveillance state technology the worst authoritarian dictatorships of the past always dreamed of.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
Keeks is doing important work in this thread
take a shot every time a famous man who’s been accused of misconduct is featured in a commercial
eating a snack every time cris collinsworth says “now HERE’S a guy”
February 9, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Keeks is doing important work in this thread
Reposted by Purely Speculative
union creative talent at work
February 9, 2026 at 1:33 AM
union creative talent at work
Reposted by Purely Speculative
Amber Glenn, a queer Texan who started ice skating at the stonebriar mall in frisco at age 5, who plays magic the gathering, is an olympic gold medalist
grateful to work at a place that always lets me write about how much i love gay women
www.chron.com/culture/arti...
www.chron.com/culture/arti...
Amber Glenn, a queer icon from Texas, is about to make Olympic history
The American figure skater's unapologetic queerness feels more important than ever.
www.chron.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Amber Glenn, a queer Texan who started ice skating at the stonebriar mall in frisco at age 5, who plays magic the gathering, is an olympic gold medalist
Reposted by Purely Speculative
No one has satisfactorily answered the fundamental question of why I should bother to read something you couldn't be bothered to write
May 23, 2024 at 2:54 PM
No one has satisfactorily answered the fundamental question of why I should bother to read something you couldn't be bothered to write
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I ask you to send me the original document rather than a Youtube reactor for the same reason I ask you not to send me a chewed sandwich.
February 8, 2026 at 9:54 PM
I ask you to send me the original document rather than a Youtube reactor for the same reason I ask you not to send me a chewed sandwich.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
there's so much disrespect of romance writers and romance readers baked into the idea that AI-driven production of novels is 'better'. as if writing romance isn't skillful, hard and joyous work. as if romance readers aren't discerning, loyal and savvy.
February 8, 2026 at 9:17 PM
there's so much disrespect of romance writers and romance readers baked into the idea that AI-driven production of novels is 'better'. as if writing romance isn't skillful, hard and joyous work. as if romance readers aren't discerning, loyal and savvy.
Never go up against Dreyer when grammar is on the line.
February 8, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Never go up against Dreyer when grammar is on the line.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
The other thing is that if you’re using a dozen pen names, you aren’t expecting people to read one of your books and WANT to read the next one. You’re gambling on them taking a chance on a new author, over and over. Romance readers read a LOT, but they’re not stupid.
This article is incredible. It says everything us actual authors have been saying for years, but with a smile on its face.
“If you hide that there’s A.I., it sells just fine,” she said.
Uh huh? Tell me more. Like how you published 19 novels to sell 20,000 copies. An average of 1000 copies a title.
“If you hide that there’s A.I., it sells just fine,” she said.
Uh huh? Tell me more. Like how you published 19 novels to sell 20,000 copies. An average of 1000 copies a title.
“If I can generate a book in a day, and you need six months to write a book, who’s going to win the race?” God this is bleak
February 8, 2026 at 9:47 PM
The other thing is that if you’re using a dozen pen names, you aren’t expecting people to read one of your books and WANT to read the next one. You’re gambling on them taking a chance on a new author, over and over. Romance readers read a LOT, but they’re not stupid.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
It’s more than disappointing to see people mocking the red knit hats.
1. The symbol was strong enough the Nazis banned them to stop people signaling their resistance to each other.
2. Sales of patterns have raised hundreds of thousands for mutual aid.
3. Not everyone can stand, shout, smuggle.
1. The symbol was strong enough the Nazis banned them to stop people signaling their resistance to each other.
2. Sales of patterns have raised hundreds of thousands for mutual aid.
3. Not everyone can stand, shout, smuggle.
February 8, 2026 at 7:17 PM
It’s more than disappointing to see people mocking the red knit hats.
1. The symbol was strong enough the Nazis banned them to stop people signaling their resistance to each other.
2. Sales of patterns have raised hundreds of thousands for mutual aid.
3. Not everyone can stand, shout, smuggle.
1. The symbol was strong enough the Nazis banned them to stop people signaling their resistance to each other.
2. Sales of patterns have raised hundreds of thousands for mutual aid.
3. Not everyone can stand, shout, smuggle.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
yeah, this is absolutely a reason why there are a lot more gleeful predictions about AI taking over all creative work than there are about it taking over sports
This too is Gender. Football is a Man Thing (vital), while many other creative pursuits are Woman Coded (frivolous, disposable, not Really Important).
February 8, 2026 at 7:39 PM
yeah, this is absolutely a reason why there are a lot more gleeful predictions about AI taking over all creative work than there are about it taking over sports
Reposted by Purely Speculative
Lots that is grotesque here, but I think the key thing to notice is the zero-sum worldview: if we take in a 5yo immigrant, this somehow displaces or harms at 5yo American kid. There's a finite pool of "American" to distribute.
A zero-sum worldview is the molten core of reactionary thinking.
A zero-sum worldview is the molten core of reactionary thinking.
Gonzales on Liam Ramos and his family: "They're not gonna qualify for asylum. So what do you do with all the people that go through the process and do not qualify for asylum? You deport them. I understand that 5-year-old and it breaks my heart. I also think, what about that 5-year-old US citizen?"
February 8, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Lots that is grotesque here, but I think the key thing to notice is the zero-sum worldview: if we take in a 5yo immigrant, this somehow displaces or harms at 5yo American kid. There's a finite pool of "American" to distribute.
A zero-sum worldview is the molten core of reactionary thinking.
A zero-sum worldview is the molten core of reactionary thinking.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
people who say that all creative endeavor can be replaced with AI probably need to reckon with the fact that all televised sports events with human athletes could easily be replicated by high-definition computer-animated simulations….and yet we don’t do this and no one seems to want to.
February 8, 2026 at 7:26 PM
people who say that all creative endeavor can be replaced with AI probably need to reckon with the fact that all televised sports events with human athletes could easily be replicated by high-definition computer-animated simulations….and yet we don’t do this and no one seems to want to.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
I owe you an apology, Amber Glenn. I wasn't really familiar with your Magic: The Gathering Game.
February 8, 2026 at 7:45 PM
I owe you an apology, Amber Glenn. I wasn't really familiar with your Magic: The Gathering Game.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
Another addition to the website to help us built *systems* and not just have me trying to do everything alone:
If you'd like to adopt a rent that you can either *cover immediately* and fundraise for, or just pay outright, please fill out this form and we will contact you via Signal.
If you'd like to adopt a rent that you can either *cover immediately* and fundraise for, or just pay outright, please fill out this form and we will contact you via Signal.
Adopt A Rent — Stand With Minnesota
Donate your Delta Skymiles to get people home from Texas
www.standwithminnesota.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Another addition to the website to help us built *systems* and not just have me trying to do everything alone:
If you'd like to adopt a rent that you can either *cover immediately* and fundraise for, or just pay outright, please fill out this form and we will contact you via Signal.
If you'd like to adopt a rent that you can either *cover immediately* and fundraise for, or just pay outright, please fill out this form and we will contact you via Signal.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
We are delighted to announce that our ebooks are now available through Bookshop.org in the USA. American readers, go forth and support your local bookstores!
February 7, 2026 at 8:15 PM
We are delighted to announce that our ebooks are now available through Bookshop.org in the USA. American readers, go forth and support your local bookstores!
Reposted by Purely Speculative
Alright, where are my gifted kids at? You were smart and you never had to study and then you went to college and suddenly had to learn a new skillset overnight, that everybody else had years to learn, or flame out spectacularly?
That’s what talent is like.
That’s what talent is like.
In my experience, talent is a *detriment* to learning.
I didn't have to practice early on so I *didn't know how*. I didn't start to learn how to practice until my 30s! (When much of my life was taken up with parenting, so I didn't have time!)
I didn't start to improve as a musician until my 40s!
I didn't have to practice early on so I *didn't know how*. I didn't start to learn how to practice until my 30s! (When much of my life was taken up with parenting, so I didn't have time!)
I didn't start to improve as a musician until my 40s!
I'm going to say this again in case you haven't heard this one: I was a talented writer and it did *nothing whatsoever* because I hadn't put in the work, and I put in the work for ten years (subtracting the bit where I had to quit for my mental health) to write Witchmark
talent alone could *never*
talent alone could *never*
February 7, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Alright, where are my gifted kids at? You were smart and you never had to study and then you went to college and suddenly had to learn a new skillset overnight, that everybody else had years to learn, or flame out spectacularly?
That’s what talent is like.
That’s what talent is like.
Reposted by Purely Speculative
“the Epstein class” should be THE tagline tbh. it’s so accurate their only defense is redactions, and it captures a hundred different linked evils at once. it also perfectly clarifies why trying to distinguish btw “kitchen table issues” (ie money) and “identity politics” (ie misogyny) is impossible
Ossoff: We were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans. But this is a government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. It’s the wealthiest Cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class. They are the elites they pretend to hate.
February 7, 2026 at 11:12 PM
“the Epstein class” should be THE tagline tbh. it’s so accurate their only defense is redactions, and it captures a hundred different linked evils at once. it also perfectly clarifies why trying to distinguish btw “kitchen table issues” (ie money) and “identity politics” (ie misogyny) is impossible
Reposted by Purely Speculative
GA friends, please call!! email!!
The “jail the librarians” bill is back and we need everyone to AGAIN call their representatives to get this bill to either on the vine.
Contact Speaker of the House Jon Burns to tell him that book bans are off the table.
mailto:jon.burns@house.ga.gov
capitol-beat.org/2026/02/book...
Contact Speaker of the House Jon Burns to tell him that book bans are off the table.
mailto:jon.burns@house.ga.gov
capitol-beat.org/2026/02/book...
Book ban versus parent control, lawmakers debate purpose of bill that could send librarians to jail |
capitol-beat.org
February 7, 2026 at 7:53 PM
GA friends, please call!! email!!
Reposted by Purely Speculative
February 7, 2026 at 7:59 PM