Michael Van Lane
@mvanlane.bsky.social
Staying connected, just not everywhere. Music, books, public policy, and good conversations.
Doris Day is a surprisingly good vocalist. If, in 1980, you had asked me to name a surprisingly good vocalist, I would not have considered Day. But she has three albums reviewed in Will Friedwald’s book on great jazz vocal albums, including this one with Robert Goulet.
November 17, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Doris Day is a surprisingly good vocalist. If, in 1980, you had asked me to name a surprisingly good vocalist, I would not have considered Day. But she has three albums reviewed in Will Friedwald’s book on great jazz vocal albums, including this one with Robert Goulet.
Listening to The Verve on the turntable, fucking around in general, sipping a cheap glass of red, and making black bean soup.
Just another Autumnal Sunday in 2025.
Just another Autumnal Sunday in 2025.
November 16, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Listening to The Verve on the turntable, fucking around in general, sipping a cheap glass of red, and making black bean soup.
Just another Autumnal Sunday in 2025.
Just another Autumnal Sunday in 2025.
I had lunch with friends downtown and afterwards I was lured into a record shop. This LP sweet-talked me into bringing it home.
November 16, 2025 at 6:44 PM
I had lunch with friends downtown and afterwards I was lured into a record shop. This LP sweet-talked me into bringing it home.
These days, even the Christmas Cactus decorates in November.
November 15, 2025 at 3:16 PM
These days, even the Christmas Cactus decorates in November.
Slowdive from earliest to latest. Alright, alright. Slow kisses everyone. But.
November 11, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Slowdive from earliest to latest. Alright, alright. Slow kisses everyone. But.
Thomas Pynchon has a new novel, Shadow Ticket (Penguin Press).
November 11, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Thomas Pynchon has a new novel, Shadow Ticket (Penguin Press).
Glenn Gould. This album was once owned by Gould’s cousin and confidante, Jessie Grieg.
I bought her collection on consignment last year.
I can add this to the memory of me falling flat on my face at the National Archives in Ottawa after tripping on the stairs where Gould’s piano was displayed.
I bought her collection on consignment last year.
I can add this to the memory of me falling flat on my face at the National Archives in Ottawa after tripping on the stairs where Gould’s piano was displayed.
November 8, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Glenn Gould. This album was once owned by Gould’s cousin and confidante, Jessie Grieg.
I bought her collection on consignment last year.
I can add this to the memory of me falling flat on my face at the National Archives in Ottawa after tripping on the stairs where Gould’s piano was displayed.
I bought her collection on consignment last year.
I can add this to the memory of me falling flat on my face at the National Archives in Ottawa after tripping on the stairs where Gould’s piano was displayed.
Burrow’s memoir is very nuts-and-bolts. He wore a suit as a TV director in the early 1970s, he wore jeans on the set of Cheers in the 1980s—that sort of thing.
He drops jokes throughout. Yesterday, I read a joke Bob Newhart told during the audience warm-up, and I laughed for 15 minutes.
He drops jokes throughout. Yesterday, I read a joke Bob Newhart told during the audience warm-up, and I laughed for 15 minutes.
November 8, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Burrow’s memoir is very nuts-and-bolts. He wore a suit as a TV director in the early 1970s, he wore jeans on the set of Cheers in the 1980s—that sort of thing.
He drops jokes throughout. Yesterday, I read a joke Bob Newhart told during the audience warm-up, and I laughed for 15 minutes.
He drops jokes throughout. Yesterday, I read a joke Bob Newhart told during the audience warm-up, and I laughed for 15 minutes.
James Watson has died and with his death I have learned about Rosalind Franklin.
This article is a good read.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This article is a good read.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:11 PM
James Watson has died and with his death I have learned about Rosalind Franklin.
This article is a good read.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This article is a good read.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
I didn’t follow the New York mayoralty race except for a few quip clips and a few YT quick takes. But from the reactions to Mamdani’s election, you’d think half the public had never heard of free public transit before (i.e., transit paid for with tax revenue), except in terrorist manifestos.
November 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I didn’t follow the New York mayoralty race except for a few quip clips and a few YT quick takes. But from the reactions to Mamdani’s election, you’d think half the public had never heard of free public transit before (i.e., transit paid for with tax revenue), except in terrorist manifestos.
The political centre is where the power is in Canada. Poilievre’s alienating and divisive sloganeering must wear thin for any sitting member. I am not surprised that a Conservative joined a government led by a central banker, albeit a Liberal one.
www.ctvnews.ca/politics/art...
www.ctvnews.ca/politics/art...
PM Carney welcomes floor-crosser, d’Entremont suggests there could be more
Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly welcomed Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont to his Liberal caucus Wednesday morning, thanking him for his decision to cross the floor, bringing the minority governmen...
www.ctvnews.ca
November 6, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The political centre is where the power is in Canada. Poilievre’s alienating and divisive sloganeering must wear thin for any sitting member. I am not surprised that a Conservative joined a government led by a central banker, albeit a Liberal one.
www.ctvnews.ca/politics/art...
www.ctvnews.ca/politics/art...
LOL
November 6, 2025 at 4:03 PM
LOL
I watched Season One of Buffy the Vampire Slayer before Halloween, and Sarah Michelle Gellar gave a top performance in the season finale.
I also see that the character Giles drives a hardtop MGB in an episode in Season Two.
I also see that the character Giles drives a hardtop MGB in an episode in Season Two.
November 6, 2025 at 2:52 AM
I watched Season One of Buffy the Vampire Slayer before Halloween, and Sarah Michelle Gellar gave a top performance in the season finale.
I also see that the character Giles drives a hardtop MGB in an episode in Season Two.
I also see that the character Giles drives a hardtop MGB in an episode in Season Two.
LOL
Cuomo Says He Will Devote Rest of Life to Sexually Harassing People in the Private Sector
November 6, 2025 at 1:51 AM
LOL
Pete Wylie [ The Day That Margaret Thatcher Dies! ]
YouTube video by RadioWah
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM
LOL
Bold of Zohran to murder Dick Cheney as his final campaign stunt
November 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
LOL
LOL
Dick Cheney? Is Mitch McConnell even in this thing?!?
November 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
LOL
I am reading James Burrows’ memoir. In it, he writes, Lynn Garland, Frank Loesser’s wife, was known as “the evil of two Loessers.” “Why does everyone take an instant dislike to me?” she asked. “It saves time.”!
November 4, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I am reading James Burrows’ memoir. In it, he writes, Lynn Garland, Frank Loesser’s wife, was known as “the evil of two Loessers.” “Why does everyone take an instant dislike to me?” she asked. “It saves time.”!
I absolutely despise the institution of monarchies. I am also not opposed to keeping the status quo when it is benefits society.
However, in this instance, there is zero chance *they* didn't know. They should dismantle the fucking thing and become a republic.
Or publicly shoot people.
However, in this instance, there is zero chance *they* didn't know. They should dismantle the fucking thing and become a republic.
Or publicly shoot people.
“There is a concerted effort to turn this into a positive story about the monarchy bravely ejecting this one bad apple. I find it bizarre that there is no serious discussion of whether we must also look at how inherited privilege passes to and is used by unsuitable, undeserving people. Not a peep.”
SUNDAY SCHOOL: HOUSE(S) OF HORROR
🏛️ Buck House finally faces facts
🏠 The Rachel Reeves house grouse
🌷Right takes a beating in Dutch house
😱 Films that left us cowering at home
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/08uy...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
🏛️ Buck House finally faces facts
🏠 The Rachel Reeves house grouse
🌷Right takes a beating in Dutch house
😱 Films that left us cowering at home
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/08uy...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
November 2, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I absolutely despise the institution of monarchies. I am also not opposed to keeping the status quo when it is benefits society.
However, in this instance, there is zero chance *they* didn't know. They should dismantle the fucking thing and become a republic.
Or publicly shoot people.
However, in this instance, there is zero chance *they* didn't know. They should dismantle the fucking thing and become a republic.
Or publicly shoot people.
LOL
November 2, 2025 at 9:26 PM
LOL
I am doing Sunday chores after the World Series. I put Eight Men Out in the DVD player for background only because Puccini didn’t write an opera in which a whole Toronto baseball team died of tuberculosis.
November 2, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I am doing Sunday chores after the World Series. I put Eight Men Out in the DVD player for background only because Puccini didn’t write an opera in which a whole Toronto baseball team died of tuberculosis.
WFT?! What happened to Pasolini again?! This is the first I have heard of his horrible end.
Italy, 1975, was a fucking brutal place and time.
Italy, 1975, was a fucking brutal place and time.
It's 50 years ago today that Pier Paulo Pasolini was found tortured and murdered on an Italian beach. You can watch his mind-blowing Medea (with Maria Callas) in full on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn-J...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn-J...
Medea - (Ita Sub Esp)
YouTube video by Film&Clips
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 6:24 PM
WFT?! What happened to Pasolini again?! This is the first I have heard of his horrible end.
Italy, 1975, was a fucking brutal place and time.
Italy, 1975, was a fucking brutal place and time.
I will happily accept being un-boyfriended if it means I can continue my relationship with my wristwatches.
Is it really outrageously uncool to have a boyfriend?
Is it really outrageously uncool to have a boyfriend?
Vogue magazine thinks so – but there are other relationships that are much more embarrassing. I should know, I’m in one myself
www.theguardian.com
November 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I will happily accept being un-boyfriended if it means I can continue my relationship with my wristwatches.
I dreamt I was responsible for organizing the Charlie Kirk memorial. I was being polite and civil, but eventually I tapped out. “I’m not the right person for this. I didn’t know him, and I didn’t like him.”
Yeah. That’s what I did with my extra hour of sleep this morning.
Yeah. That’s what I did with my extra hour of sleep this morning.
November 2, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I dreamt I was responsible for organizing the Charlie Kirk memorial. I was being polite and civil, but eventually I tapped out. “I’m not the right person for this. I didn’t know him, and I didn’t like him.”
Yeah. That’s what I did with my extra hour of sleep this morning.
Yeah. That’s what I did with my extra hour of sleep this morning.