Matthew Cheney
@melikhovo.bsky.social
Writer, teacher, person.
Books from Black Lawrence, Bloomsbury Academic, punctum, Third Man, Lethe. Horror fiction, modernism, pedagogy, weirdness.
(Would love to post less about politics, but, well, look outside...)
https://matthewcheney.net
Books from Black Lawrence, Bloomsbury Academic, punctum, Third Man, Lethe. Horror fiction, modernism, pedagogy, weirdness.
(Would love to post less about politics, but, well, look outside...)
https://matthewcheney.net
Pinned
Matthew Cheney
@melikhovo.bsky.social
· Aug 29
MOON SONGS | Kirkus Reviews
A greatest hits collection of unclassifiable speculative fiction.
www.kirkusreviews.com
Kirkus gives Moon Songs a star!
"This compellingly assembled retrospective gives longtime Emshwiller fans a chance to savor her unique sensibility again, while lucky newcomers enjoy the thrill of discovery."
@thirdmanbooks.bsky.social
www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
"This compellingly assembled retrospective gives longtime Emshwiller fans a chance to savor her unique sensibility again, while lucky newcomers enjoy the thrill of discovery."
@thirdmanbooks.bsky.social
www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
no quote about the US political system has ever gone harder than this one
November 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
no quote about the US political system has ever gone harder than this one
"The third graders kept a stack of worksheets tucked underneath their chapter books at all times as they took turns reading aloud with their teacher. At any moment, they knew, their teacher might get an urgent text that district officials were on campus."
Deliberate deliteracy.
This is not a fire drill, unless you mean that in the “Fahrenheit 451” sense. In which case, you’re right, that’s precisely what it is.
This is not a fire drill, unless you mean that in the “Fahrenheit 451” sense. In which case, you’re right, that’s precisely what it is.
do the highest reaches of literary studies know about this, for instance www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
"The third graders kept a stack of worksheets tucked underneath their chapter books at all times as they took turns reading aloud with their teacher. At any moment, they knew, their teacher might get an urgent text that district officials were on campus."
Toad's story was about the uprising of the seeds and their triumph over the boots of fate.
“I will read the seeds a story,” said Toad. “Then they will not be afraid.”
Toad read a long story to his seeds.
Toad read a long story to his seeds.
November 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Toad's story was about the uprising of the seeds and their triumph over the boots of fate.
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
Check out our stories on 8 libraries that have unbundled from a journal package or cancelled a Big Deal altogether. The profiles describe the context of the decision, preparation, how continuing access to materials was secured, campus response, next steps & advice. sparcopen.org/our-work/big...
Unbundling Profiles - SPARC
sparcopen.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Check out our stories on 8 libraries that have unbundled from a journal package or cancelled a Big Deal altogether. The profiles describe the context of the decision, preparation, how continuing access to materials was secured, campus response, next steps & advice. sparcopen.org/our-work/big...
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
some years, Circulatory System Walking Through the Kitchen Day just completely sneaks up on you
November 10, 2025 at 1:28 PM
some years, Circulatory System Walking Through the Kitchen Day just completely sneaks up on you
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
"The commas in the first line of Pride and Prejudice tell you where to breathe."
Yes, if you have a plastic bag over your head.
Yes, if you have a plastic bag over your head.
November 10, 2025 at 2:37 PM
"The commas in the first line of Pride and Prejudice tell you where to breathe."
Yes, if you have a plastic bag over your head.
Yes, if you have a plastic bag over your head.
Handy guide for anybody trying to figure out the ruin that is American politics.
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
November 10, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Handy guide for anybody trying to figure out the ruin that is American politics.
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
I keep seeing regular Americans taking more risks every day to fight tyranny, want, and cynicism than I see from the opposition party, and I imagine many of those regular Americans are asking themselves what the value proposition of such an opposition party is, really
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 AM
I keep seeing regular Americans taking more risks every day to fight tyranny, want, and cynicism than I see from the opposition party, and I imagine many of those regular Americans are asking themselves what the value proposition of such an opposition party is, really
Kind of embarrassing for @hassan.senate.gov to be speaking in public after smoking this much pot, which is (still!) illegal here in NH.
#NHpolitics
#NHpolitics
Hassan: With the government reopening shortly, Republicans now finally have to come to the table. Or make no mistake, Americans will remember who stood in the way.
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Kind of embarrassing for @hassan.senate.gov to be speaking in public after smoking this much pot, which is (still!) illegal here in NH.
#NHpolitics
#NHpolitics
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
November 10, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
My statement after voting for a bipartisan agreement to reopen the federal government and give Congress a way forward to protect health care for Granite Staters:
November 10, 2025 at 3:41 AM
It is a good thing @shaheen.senate.gov plans to retire because she's listening to voices in her head.
Most of the people who voted for Sen. Shaheen have been out in force protesting this administration for months now — the administration she caves in to.
Most of the people who voted for Sen. Shaheen have been out in force protesting this administration for months now — the administration she caves in to.
Shaheen: "When I talk to my constituents in New Hampshire, you know what they say to me? They say, 'Why can't you all just work together to address the problems that are facing this country?'"
November 10, 2025 at 3:34 AM
It is a good thing @shaheen.senate.gov plans to retire because she's listening to voices in her head.
Most of the people who voted for Sen. Shaheen have been out in force protesting this administration for months now — the administration she caves in to.
Most of the people who voted for Sen. Shaheen have been out in force protesting this administration for months now — the administration she caves in to.
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
I spent a good chunk of the past 11 months angry, angry at what this regime is doing to this country.
But im feeling levels of unbridled rage that I have not felt in years after watching the democrats negate their biggest win in years with a deal that gives the regime an even bigger victory
But im feeling levels of unbridled rage that I have not felt in years after watching the democrats negate their biggest win in years with a deal that gives the regime an even bigger victory
November 10, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I spent a good chunk of the past 11 months angry, angry at what this regime is doing to this country.
But im feeling levels of unbridled rage that I have not felt in years after watching the democrats negate their biggest win in years with a deal that gives the regime an even bigger victory
But im feeling levels of unbridled rage that I have not felt in years after watching the democrats negate their biggest win in years with a deal that gives the regime an even bigger victory
Can't wait to vote for anybody in the primary who is not Maggie Hassan. She has been nothing but a collaborator with fascism.
At least Jeanne Shaheen is retiring. We're going to need to work to get Hassan out. Good to have something to work toward...
At least Jeanne Shaheen is retiring. We're going to need to work to get Hassan out. Good to have something to work toward...
Agree.
Sen Hassan, asked what will happen if Republicans don't carry out the deal, "Well, shame on them."
This is not what people were mobilizing for on Oct 18.
Sen Hassan, asked what will happen if Republicans don't carry out the deal, "Well, shame on them."
This is not what people were mobilizing for on Oct 18.
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Can't wait to vote for anybody in the primary who is not Maggie Hassan. She has been nothing but a collaborator with fascism.
At least Jeanne Shaheen is retiring. We're going to need to work to get Hassan out. Good to have something to work toward...
At least Jeanne Shaheen is retiring. We're going to need to work to get Hassan out. Good to have something to work toward...
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
this is senate dems’ second coordinated “just enough” vote to help republicans and betray house dems of the year, remember
The final tally to advance the CR is 62-38.
The Democrats who voted for cloture, giving Donald Trump everything he wants:
Cortez Masto (NV)
Durbin (IL)
Fetterman (PA)
Gillibrand (NY)
Hassan (NH)
Peters (MI)
Schatz (HI)
Schumer (NY)
Shaheen (NH)
The Democrats who voted for cloture, giving Donald Trump everything he wants:
Cortez Masto (NV)
Durbin (IL)
Fetterman (PA)
Gillibrand (NY)
Hassan (NH)
Peters (MI)
Schatz (HI)
Schumer (NY)
Shaheen (NH)
November 10, 2025 at 2:52 AM
this is senate dems’ second coordinated “just enough” vote to help republicans and betray house dems of the year, remember
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
I just left Chuck Schumer a message not to cave on the #ShutDown. Who Else? Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). We will remember when elections come round again.
November 9, 2025 at 8:44 PM
I just left Chuck Schumer a message not to cave on the #ShutDown. Who Else? Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). We will remember when elections come round again.
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
"The AI industry’s most important product at this moment is not a chatbot or a video generator; it’s the story the AI industry is telling about itself." www.theringer.com/2025/11/04/t...
How Catastrophic Is It If the AI Bubble Bursts? An FAQ.
The AI industry's most important product is not a chatbot or a video generator; it's the story the AI industry is telling about itself
www.theringer.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:26 PM
"The AI industry’s most important product at this moment is not a chatbot or a video generator; it’s the story the AI industry is telling about itself." www.theringer.com/2025/11/04/t...
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
“We need not imagine what Arendt would have had to say about Israel’s crimes against humanity perpetrated on the body of the Gazan people—because we already know.”
Arendt’s Refugee Politics - Public Books
One of Arendt’s most surprising insights is that professing “love for the X people” may be a way to foreclose on freedom and on humanity just as effectively as professing “hatred for the Y people.”
www.publicbooks.org
November 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
“We need not imagine what Arendt would have had to say about Israel’s crimes against humanity perpetrated on the body of the Gazan people—because we already know.”
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
I’ve had two conferences—one in the US and one international—change titles of panels or the entire gathering to avoid being targeted or make people’s lives more difficult.
It’s the exact kind of thing the US used to label totalitarian when foreign countries did this to their scholars.
It’s the exact kind of thing the US used to label totalitarian when foreign countries did this to their scholars.
Going to a research conference next week. One of my panels featured researchers coming from Asia, who decided to withdraw given the uncertainty about domestic travel with flight cancelations. Just one more reference point for how the US under Trump has become seen as a basket case country.
November 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I’ve had two conferences—one in the US and one international—change titles of panels or the entire gathering to avoid being targeted or make people’s lives more difficult.
It’s the exact kind of thing the US used to label totalitarian when foreign countries did this to their scholars.
It’s the exact kind of thing the US used to label totalitarian when foreign countries did this to their scholars.
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
This is really important.
The main thing that makes it hard to achieve integrated nature and green in cities isn’t density of buildings or density of people — it's density of cars. And the more well-designed and integrated density of people & buildings you achieve, the fewer cars you need or want.
The main thing that makes it hard to achieve integrated nature and green in cities isn’t density of buildings or density of people — it's density of cars. And the more well-designed and integrated density of people & buildings you achieve, the fewer cars you need or want.
November 9, 2025 at 8:09 AM
This is really important.
The main thing that makes it hard to achieve integrated nature and green in cities isn’t density of buildings or density of people — it's density of cars. And the more well-designed and integrated density of people & buildings you achieve, the fewer cars you need or want.
The main thing that makes it hard to achieve integrated nature and green in cities isn’t density of buildings or density of people — it's density of cars. And the more well-designed and integrated density of people & buildings you achieve, the fewer cars you need or want.
New Hampshire! Our 2 senators, Shaheen and Hassan, are both in the Gang of 8. Important to pressure them.
Shaheen at least is retiring and might be willing to dig through her closet in search of a principle or a spine.
#NHpolitics
Shaheen at least is retiring and might be willing to dig through her closet in search of a principle or a spine.
#NHpolitics
If you live in New Hampshire, read this piece and then call your senators.
SCOOP: Schumer was more involved than reported with the attempted cave on the government shutdown. The Gang of 8 Senate Dems had his approval & he was getting daily updates.
In Thursday's caucus meeting, the Gang claimed they had 10 votes to cave. The caucus went nuts, leading to the new proposal.
In Thursday's caucus meeting, the Gang claimed they had 10 votes to cave. The caucus went nuts, leading to the new proposal.
November 9, 2025 at 4:15 PM
New Hampshire! Our 2 senators, Shaheen and Hassan, are both in the Gang of 8. Important to pressure them.
Shaheen at least is retiring and might be willing to dig through her closet in search of a principle or a spine.
#NHpolitics
Shaheen at least is retiring and might be willing to dig through her closet in search of a principle or a spine.
#NHpolitics
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
It is absolutely fine to hate hideous people even during their downfall and after their deaths. There should be no shame to this. It's what they spend their lives earning.
November 8, 2025 at 1:21 PM
It is absolutely fine to hate hideous people even during their downfall and after their deaths. There should be no shame to this. It's what they spend their lives earning.
Only billionaires truly deserve to be fed.
Yikes. USDA sent threatening letter to states telling them that if they sent out EBT money —which many states did during the window when a lower court said SNAP funds had to be released—they have to take it back (?)
Trying to sort out what this means and if states even can claw back the funds
Trying to sort out what this means and if states even can claw back the funds
November 9, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Only billionaires truly deserve to be fed.
Reposted by Matthew Cheney
This connection isn’t articulated often enough.
November 9, 2025 at 3:22 PM
This connection isn’t articulated often enough.