Ordinary Times
@ordinarytimes.bsky.social
The Content of Our Discontent
A place of politics, culture, & discourse. Great writing that only costs you a click
A place of politics, culture, & discourse. Great writing that only costs you a click
"By telling the world that Venezuelan airspace is closed, Trump is already embroiling America in an utterly unnecessary war of aggression even if no shots have been fired at the Venezuelan military yet.
But shots have been fired"- @captainkudzu.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2025/12/02/w...
But shots have been fired"- @captainkudzu.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2025/12/02/w...
ordinary-times.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
"By telling the world that Venezuelan airspace is closed, Trump is already embroiling America in an utterly unnecessary war of aggression even if no shots have been fired at the Venezuelan military yet.
But shots have been fired"- @captainkudzu.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2025/12/02/w...
But shots have been fired"- @captainkudzu.bsky.social ordinary-times.com/2025/12/02/w...
Latest from @conservacatgal.bsky.social
"A lot of people who take these drugs suffer a loss of muscle mass. That would be self-defeating for me, since the whole point of this was to regain mobility.
Over the course of the year, I did see some improvement" ordinary-times.com/2025/12/02/f...
"A lot of people who take these drugs suffer a loss of muscle mass. That would be self-defeating for me, since the whole point of this was to regain mobility.
Over the course of the year, I did see some improvement" ordinary-times.com/2025/12/02/f...
ordinary-times.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Latest from @conservacatgal.bsky.social
"A lot of people who take these drugs suffer a loss of muscle mass. That would be self-defeating for me, since the whole point of this was to regain mobility.
Over the course of the year, I did see some improvement" ordinary-times.com/2025/12/02/f...
"A lot of people who take these drugs suffer a loss of muscle mass. That would be self-defeating for me, since the whole point of this was to regain mobility.
Over the course of the year, I did see some improvement" ordinary-times.com/2025/12/02/f...
From the OT Editors ordinary-times.com/2025/12/01/c...
ordinary-times.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:08 PM
From the OT Editors ordinary-times.com/2025/12/01/c...
2025's Turkeys & Drumsticks from @hal10000.bsky.social "The latter are for those who exemplify the best traits in our public sphere. The former are for those who exemplify silliness and stupidity...who regularly make me shake my head and wonder what they’re thinking"
Turkeys and Drumsticks 2025 - Ordinary Times
This year was probably one of the more difficult years for me because the turkeys are supposed to recognize silliness, not evil.
ordinary-times.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
2025's Turkeys & Drumsticks from @hal10000.bsky.social "The latter are for those who exemplify the best traits in our public sphere. The former are for those who exemplify silliness and stupidity...who regularly make me shake my head and wonder what they’re thinking"
From the Editors ordinary-times.com/2025/11/28/o...
One Soldier Dies, Airman Still Critical After DC Targeted Attack - Ordinary Times
Army Spc Sarah Beckstrom was mortally wounded Wednesday and succumbed Thanksgiving Day. Air Force SSgt Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition
ordinary-times.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:55 PM
From the Editors ordinary-times.com/2025/11/28/o...
ICYMI @HeardTellShow
A grown folk talk about 63m Americans doing caregiving & home healthcare w/host @four4thefire who has been away doing just that
iTunes t.co/AD5dHUYPzJ
Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/5dkc...
YouTube youtu.be/ncH6_xyn54s
$$stack heardtell.substack.com/p/me-and-63-...
A grown folk talk about 63m Americans doing caregiving & home healthcare w/host @four4thefire who has been away doing just that
iTunes t.co/AD5dHUYPzJ
Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/5dkc...
YouTube youtu.be/ncH6_xyn54s
$$stack heardtell.substack.com/p/me-and-63-...
November 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
ICYMI @HeardTellShow
A grown folk talk about 63m Americans doing caregiving & home healthcare w/host @four4thefire who has been away doing just that
iTunes t.co/AD5dHUYPzJ
Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/5dkc...
YouTube youtu.be/ncH6_xyn54s
$$stack heardtell.substack.com/p/me-and-63-...
A grown folk talk about 63m Americans doing caregiving & home healthcare w/host @four4thefire who has been away doing just that
iTunes t.co/AD5dHUYPzJ
Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/5dkc...
YouTube youtu.be/ncH6_xyn54s
$$stack heardtell.substack.com/p/me-and-63-...
From Clare Briggs ordinary-times.com/2025/11/13/l...
Luring a Commuter - Ordinary Times
Oh yeah. Not everybody had a car back then.
ordinary-times.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:44 PM
From Clare Briggs ordinary-times.com/2025/11/13/l...
POETS Day @ordinarytimes.bsky.social "In October of ‘21 he set up in Margate where he claimed to have written 50 usable lines. A month later he left for Switzerland in search of medical bliss...He wanted calm and focus.
In January, he was back in London to give Pound nineteen pages of manuscript"
In January, he was back in London to give Pound nineteen pages of manuscript"
POETS Day! "The Waste Land" Lees - Ordinary Times
The poem is dedicated to Ezra Pound with line “il miglior fabbro”: “the better craftsman.” That’s fawning. But...
ordinary-times.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:43 PM
POETS Day @ordinarytimes.bsky.social "In October of ‘21 he set up in Margate where he claimed to have written 50 usable lines. A month later he left for Switzerland in search of medical bliss...He wanted calm and focus.
In January, he was back in London to give Pound nineteen pages of manuscript"
In January, he was back in London to give Pound nineteen pages of manuscript"
"Within the next month, the regional critics’ groups will begin announcing their picks for the best films of the year, and major players like the American Film Institute, the National Board of Review, the Hollywood Creative Alliance, the Critics Choice Association, and the Golden Globes will follow"
98th Oscars Projections: FYC Season Update - Ordinary Times
Given how unpredictable this race still feels on several fronts, I’m genuinely glad we’re about to have some real data for me to go off of.
ordinary-times.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:18 PM
"Within the next month, the regional critics’ groups will begin announcing their picks for the best films of the year, and major players like the American Film Institute, the National Board of Review, the Hollywood Creative Alliance, the Critics Choice Association, and the Golden Globes will follow"
From @conservacatgal.bsky.social "So, what wisdom do they offer you in weight loss counseling? So many helpful suggestions! Like “drink more water!” Did you know that often when you think you’re hungry, you’re really thirsty? No, because that’s not actually true." ordinary-times.com/2025/11/12/f...
Fat Girl Diaries Part 13: The Only Thing I Didn’t Try - Ordinary Times
Would bariatric surgery solve my weight problem? It might, if I had actually been able to have it done...
ordinary-times.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:16 PM
From @conservacatgal.bsky.social "So, what wisdom do they offer you in weight loss counseling? So many helpful suggestions! Like “drink more water!” Did you know that often when you think you’re hungry, you’re really thirsty? No, because that’s not actually true." ordinary-times.com/2025/11/12/f...
From The Editors for discussion ordinary-times.com/2025/11/13/t...
The Government is Open - Ordinary Times
The government is open. Let's talk about it
ordinary-times.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:14 PM
From The Editors for discussion ordinary-times.com/2025/11/13/t...
From Maura Alwyn "Over the years I have more than halfway watched our real to life potential Bond villain with some interest. Love him or hate him, Mr. Musk is not exactly an idiot nor is he a bumbling fool. He has flat out said he wants to begin colonizing Mars in 2029"
Would You Settle Another Planet with a Bond Villain? - Ordinary Times
Over the years I have more than halfway watched our real to life potential Bond villain with some interest.
ordinary-times.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:14 PM
From Maura Alwyn "Over the years I have more than halfway watched our real to life potential Bond villain with some interest. Love him or hate him, Mr. Musk is not exactly an idiot nor is he a bumbling fool. He has flat out said he wants to begin colonizing Mars in 2029"
Reposted by Ordinary Times
Via @ordinarytimes.bsky.social, my analysis on where the race stands for 9 "above the line" #Oscars categories as we head out of festival season and into FYC season.
Still early with plenty in flux, but we can probably tell who the top-tier contenders are:
🔗 ordinary-times.com/2025/11/10/9...
Still early with plenty in flux, but we can probably tell who the top-tier contenders are:
🔗 ordinary-times.com/2025/11/10/9...
98th Oscars Projections: FYC Season Update - Ordinary Times
Given how unpredictable this race still feels on several fronts, I’m genuinely glad we’re about to have some real data for me to go off of.
ordinary-times.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Via @ordinarytimes.bsky.social, my analysis on where the race stands for 9 "above the line" #Oscars categories as we head out of festival season and into FYC season.
Still early with plenty in flux, but we can probably tell who the top-tier contenders are:
🔗 ordinary-times.com/2025/11/10/9...
Still early with plenty in flux, but we can probably tell who the top-tier contenders are:
🔗 ordinary-times.com/2025/11/10/9...
Lament of @conservacatgal.bsky.social "It has been my great misfortune that I was raised in the Metro Atlanta area and therefore was thrust against my will into following the Atlanta Falcons my entire life. Oh sure, we also have the Braves. And the Georgia Bulldogs...But the Falcons?"
Do I Have to Keep Rooting for this Team? - Ordinary Times
This is not about football...If only those questions weren’t a whole lot more consequential than the future of the Atlanta Falcons.
ordinary-times.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Lament of @conservacatgal.bsky.social "It has been my great misfortune that I was raised in the Metro Atlanta area and therefore was thrust against my will into following the Atlanta Falcons my entire life. Oh sure, we also have the Braves. And the Georgia Bulldogs...But the Falcons?"
From @hal10000.bsky.social "Mamdani has been elected Mayor of a City, not Emperor. He will find, as a all Mayors do, that his power are limited. He will be constrained by federal, state and local law, constrained by Governor Hochul and constrained by simple fiscal reality"
Everyone Needs to Chill About Zohran Mamdani - Ordinary Times
NYC is its own thing. A number of mayors thought their tenure would be a springboard to national politics. It has never worked out for them.
ordinary-times.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:51 PM
From @hal10000.bsky.social "Mamdani has been elected Mayor of a City, not Emperor. He will find, as a all Mayors do, that his power are limited. He will be constrained by federal, state and local law, constrained by Governor Hochul and constrained by simple fiscal reality"
Review from Sarah Stook "The humble miniseries is one of my favourite story mediums. We’ve had hits like Chernobyl, John Adams and Dopesick among others. It’s also the best way to tell this story. A movie would have been too long and a regular series would have too much filler."
The Just-Right Storytelling of Death By Lightning - Ordinary Times
The humble miniseries is the best way to tell this story. A movie would have been too long, and a regular series would have too much filler.
ordinary-times.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Review from Sarah Stook "The humble miniseries is one of my favourite story mediums. We’ve had hits like Chernobyl, John Adams and Dopesick among others. It’s also the best way to tell this story. A movie would have been too long and a regular series would have too much filler."
From Ben Sears for POETS Day "An ignorant reading is sweet and sad; driven to debauchery and hedonism, hunting distraction, nothing can drive the love he must be true to from his mind. Knowing the actualities of his infatuation sours the poem." ordinary-times.com/2025/11/07/p...
POETS Day! Ernest Dowson - Ordinary Times
Ernest Dowson
ordinary-times.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 AM
From Ben Sears for POETS Day "An ignorant reading is sweet and sad; driven to debauchery and hedonism, hunting distraction, nothing can drive the love he must be true to from his mind. Knowing the actualities of his infatuation sours the poem." ordinary-times.com/2025/11/07/p...
From @hal10000.bsky.social "As for his influence on national politics, I would caution my Democratic friends from reading to much into this. NYC is its own thing. A number of NYC mayors have thought their tenure would be a springboard to national politics. It has never worked out for them."
Everyone Needs to Chill About Zohran Mamdani - Ordinary Times
NYC is its own thing. A number of mayors thought their tenure would be a springboard to national politics. It has never worked out for them.
ordinary-times.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:41 AM
From @hal10000.bsky.social "As for his influence on national politics, I would caution my Democratic friends from reading to much into this. NYC is its own thing. A number of NYC mayors have thought their tenure would be a springboard to national politics. It has never worked out for them."
From @conservacatgal.bsky.social "I’ve actually enjoyed watching ISU figure skating grand prix this season. A friend is heavily into cricket. I could take that up instead. Or just stick with Bulldog Saturdays. Nobody is MAKING me punish myself week after week. So why do I do it? Habit? Masochism?"
Do I Have to Keep Rooting for this Team? - Ordinary Times
This is not about football...If only those questions weren’t a whole lot more consequential than the future of the Atlanta Falcons.
ordinary-times.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:34 AM
From @conservacatgal.bsky.social "I’ve actually enjoyed watching ISU figure skating grand prix this season. A friend is heavily into cricket. I could take that up instead. Or just stick with Bulldog Saturdays. Nobody is MAKING me punish myself week after week. So why do I do it? Habit? Masochism?"
Reposted by Ordinary Times
This isn't the cause, surely, but it is worth noting that when I was at @ordinarytimes.bsky.social there was a big consensus among the generation behind me that renting was the wiser fiscal move and only morons threw away money buying a home. So I'm unsure generational comparisons work that well.
November 9, 2025 at 5:07 PM
This isn't the cause, surely, but it is worth noting that when I was at @ordinarytimes.bsky.social there was a big consensus among the generation behind me that renting was the wiser fiscal move and only morons threw away money buying a home. So I'm unsure generational comparisons work that well.
From @four4thefire.bsky.social "Trumpism only works for Trump...Places like Bucks County-a data nerds bell-weather favorite-saw voters running not walking to elect Democratic candidates for DA & sheriff & taking total control of school boards which had seen GOP takeovers in runup to 2024 elections"
About Last Night: Elections That Mean Everything, Or Nothing, Depending - Ordinary Times
Reactions are based on expectations, expectations are based on consumed information, and modern Americans only consume what they want to.
ordinary-times.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:03 PM
From @four4thefire.bsky.social "Trumpism only works for Trump...Places like Bucks County-a data nerds bell-weather favorite-saw voters running not walking to elect Democratic candidates for DA & sheriff & taking total control of school boards which had seen GOP takeovers in runup to 2024 elections"
From @captainkudzu.bsky.social "Who knew? Well, a lot of us did...now, with the cold, hard data of election results bursting the bubble of assumptions that a quiet majority was defying the polling of Trump’s plunging approval, all that Republican redistricting suddenly looks like a bad idea."
I Told You So: The Backlash to Trump is Here - Ordinary Times
If anything, this week’s results prove that Donald Trump and MAGA do not control American electoral institutions. At least, not yet.
ordinary-times.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM
From @captainkudzu.bsky.social "Who knew? Well, a lot of us did...now, with the cold, hard data of election results bursting the bubble of assumptions that a quiet majority was defying the polling of Trump’s plunging approval, all that Republican redistricting suddenly looks like a bad idea."
"Mamdani will be able to institute his policies rather than be at loggerheads w/institutions that may themselves create a “deep state” of sorts. There may be a principal/agent problem down the road, but Mamdani will have quite a few of his own principals appointed" ordinary-times.com/2025/10/17/s...
So What Happens When Mamdani Wins? - Ordinary Times
The debate did not gain Cuomo a single voter, and Mamdani is going to win with a bigger margin than if there had been no debate at all.
ordinary-times.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:41 PM
"Mamdani will be able to institute his policies rather than be at loggerheads w/institutions that may themselves create a “deep state” of sorts. There may be a principal/agent problem down the road, but Mamdani will have quite a few of his own principals appointed" ordinary-times.com/2025/10/17/s...
From @ogjaybird.bsky.social "The various threads talk various things about why this might be (my favorite “men are too insecure and so won’t go”… that one got upvotes) but, over and over, there’s just discussions about the skew and what needs to be done to make it closer to 50/50. Or, heck, 30/70"
The Dating Scene - Ordinary Times
Guys aren't showing up for singles meetups. How can we get them to show up for singles meetups?
ordinary-times.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:37 PM
From @ogjaybird.bsky.social "The various threads talk various things about why this might be (my favorite “men are too insecure and so won’t go”… that one got upvotes) but, over and over, there’s just discussions about the skew and what needs to be done to make it closer to 50/50. Or, heck, 30/70"
From @captainkudzu.bsky.social "It’s no wonder they want so badly to discredit what is essentially an anti-Trump coalition, but the people who showed up on Saturday are not going away. As Trump continues to abuse his authority in new and frightening ways, their numbers will only grow."
Myths About No Kings - Ordinary Times
The only way No Kings can be construed as anti-American is if you think Trump is America. That’s an attitude a king might display.
ordinary-times.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:29 PM
From @captainkudzu.bsky.social "It’s no wonder they want so badly to discredit what is essentially an anti-Trump coalition, but the people who showed up on Saturday are not going away. As Trump continues to abuse his authority in new and frightening ways, their numbers will only grow."