Tal B. Lavin
@swordsjew.bsky.social
journalist, author, reads too much. haggard and unblest. newsletter:
buttondown.email/theswordandthesandwich
buy my new book!! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/talia-lavin/wild-faith/9780306829192/
contact: talialavinwrites@gmail.com
buttondown.email/theswordandthesandwich
buy my new book!! https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/talia-lavin/wild-faith/9780306829192/
contact: talialavinwrites@gmail.com
Pinned
Tal B. Lavin
@swordsjew.bsky.social
· Nov 11
time to unleash The Grilled Cheese Essay (which personally made padma lakshmi cry) on the newskies
buttondown.com/theswordandt...
buttondown.com/theswordandt...
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
I named my fists John and Cage because you're not going to be doing anything for the next four minutes and thirty three seconds
I named my fists Chekhov and Gun because you know they're coming but you don't know when
i named my fists Rodgers and Hammerstein cuz theyre always in my own little corner
December 1, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I named my fists John and Cage because you're not going to be doing anything for the next four minutes and thirty three seconds
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
I named my fists Chekhov and Gun because you know they're coming but you don't know when
i named my fists Rodgers and Hammerstein cuz theyre always in my own little corner
I named my fists Gilbert and Sullivan because they are slaves to duty
December 1, 2025 at 2:09 AM
I named my fists Chekhov and Gun because you know they're coming but you don't know when
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
I named my fists Troilus and Cressida because they're rarely produced, lackluster, and mostly just offer a lesson about the futility of violence.
i named my fists Rodgers and Hammerstein cuz theyre always in my own little corner
I named my fists Gilbert and Sullivan because they are slaves to duty
December 1, 2025 at 2:21 AM
I named my fists Troilus and Cressida because they're rarely produced, lackluster, and mostly just offer a lesson about the futility of violence.
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
i named my fists eat and pray because they’re gonna love beating your ass
i named my fists Rodgers and Hammerstein cuz theyre always in my own little corner
I named my fists Gilbert and Sullivan because they are slaves to duty
December 1, 2025 at 1:51 AM
i named my fists eat and pray because they’re gonna love beating your ass
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
I named my fists Strunk and White because if we're doing this, there will be elements of style.
i named my fists Rodgers and Hammerstein cuz theyre always in my own little corner
I named my fists Gilbert and Sullivan because they are slaves to duty
December 1, 2025 at 1:38 AM
I named my fists Strunk and White because if we're doing this, there will be elements of style.
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
Named my fists Ben and Jerry cause they're headed right for your mouth and stomach
i named my fists Rodgers and Hammerstein cuz theyre always in my own little corner
I named my fists Gilbert and Sullivan because they are slaves to duty
December 1, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Named my fists Ben and Jerry cause they're headed right for your mouth and stomach
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
if this is discrimination, I’m genuinely unsure what you’re supposed to do when a student responds to a prompt with some religious gibberish
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
December 1, 2025 at 12:43 AM
if this is discrimination, I’m genuinely unsure what you’re supposed to do when a student responds to a prompt with some religious gibberish
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
I named my fists Burleigh and Stronginthearm because they're best used for militant decency.
i named my fists Rodgers and Hammerstein cuz theyre always in my own little corner
I named my fists Gilbert and Sullivan because they are slaves to duty
December 1, 2025 at 12:56 AM
I named my fists Burleigh and Stronginthearm because they're best used for militant decency.
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
I named my fists Ashman and Menken cause they'll send you to a whole new world
i named my fists Rodgers and Hammerstein cuz theyre always in my own little corner
I named my fists Gilbert and Sullivan because they are slaves to duty
December 1, 2025 at 12:57 AM
I named my fists Ashman and Menken cause they'll send you to a whole new world
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
named my fists simon and garfunkel 'cause if you fuck with me all you're gonna hear is the sound of silence
i named my fists Rodgers and Hammerstein cuz theyre always in my own little corner
I named my fists Gilbert and Sullivan because they are slaves to duty
December 1, 2025 at 12:50 AM
named my fists simon and garfunkel 'cause if you fuck with me all you're gonna hear is the sound of silence
i named my fists Rodgers and Hammerstein cuz theyre always in my own little corner
I named my fists Gilbert and Sullivan because they are slaves to duty
December 1, 2025 at 12:46 AM
i named my fists Rodgers and Hammerstein cuz theyre always in my own little corner
i took an unscheduled "my brain is toast and i literally cannot write another word without shaking" break which is. almost over cuz the words are coming back. i have never taken this long of a pause writing since i was...12. but pulling back and getting my shit together enough to come out? worth it
December 1, 2025 at 12:33 AM
i took an unscheduled "my brain is toast and i literally cannot write another word without shaking" break which is. almost over cuz the words are coming back. i have never taken this long of a pause writing since i was...12. but pulling back and getting my shit together enough to come out? worth it
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
Honestly, I didn't even think about reading romance until earlier this year. Partly because I'd read some Danielle Steele and Nora Roberts lying around in beach rentals when I was a kid and they left me cold, but also, in a really big way, because of internalized misogyny
I'm not in the least surprised Crave/HBOs Heated Rivalry, based on Rachel Reid's romances, seems to be taking off in the places I hang out on bsky.
@swordsjew.bsky.social has been documenting (hilariously) his reading romance novels. It's a perfect summary of why this readership is fascinating.
@swordsjew.bsky.social has been documenting (hilariously) his reading romance novels. It's a perfect summary of why this readership is fascinating.
November 30, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Honestly, I didn't even think about reading romance until earlier this year. Partly because I'd read some Danielle Steele and Nora Roberts lying around in beach rentals when I was a kid and they left me cold, but also, in a really big way, because of internalized misogyny
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
I named my fists Gilbert and Sullivan because they are slaves to duty
November 30, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I named my fists Gilbert and Sullivan because they are slaves to duty
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
*Holding up my fist* say hello to Agatha Christie *and then my other fist* and this here is her collection of genre defining mystery novels
November 30, 2025 at 8:00 PM
*Holding up my fist* say hello to Agatha Christie *and then my other fist* and this here is her collection of genre defining mystery novels
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
and this is why the Death of the Humanities Degrees is devastating; we're just giving up on teaching students how to synthesize information in a way that's not somehow tied to capitalism
One hard part of the literacy problem in the United States is there are a lot of people -- some of them with college degrees and beyond -- who don't realize that they are bad at reading
I don't know how to reach those people
I don't know how to reach those people
November 30, 2025 at 7:53 PM
and this is why the Death of the Humanities Degrees is devastating; we're just giving up on teaching students how to synthesize information in a way that's not somehow tied to capitalism
saw some graffiti that said I AM THE CLONE OF GOD today and it opened up a lot of questions
November 30, 2025 at 7:27 PM
saw some graffiti that said I AM THE CLONE OF GOD today and it opened up a lot of questions
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
I'm watching Heated Rivalry for the plot.
The plot:
The plot:
November 29, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I'm watching Heated Rivalry for the plot.
The plot:
The plot:
if youve already read heated rivalry, home ice defense by ari baran and season's change by cait nary are both a) full of so much hockey and b) almost bizarrely well written? like i was low key inspired in my craft by the prose of both. like, it's so good and so gay
I'd never heard of this concept before last week when it took over my insta timeline and I'm now low-key obsessed with smoldering Canadian hockey gays 🇨🇦
November 29, 2025 at 9:10 PM
if youve already read heated rivalry, home ice defense by ari baran and season's change by cait nary are both a) full of so much hockey and b) almost bizarrely well written? like i was low key inspired in my craft by the prose of both. like, it's so good and so gay
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
Thing is, we DID hear about it at his confirmation hearing.
Every single senator who voted to confirm Hegseth knew he held these views about the laws of war.
They voted to confirm him anyway.
Every single senator who voted to confirm Hegseth knew he held these views about the laws of war.
They voted to confirm him anyway.
Everyone should read this terrifying thread about Hegseth’s published views wrt war crimes. It’s pretty fucking radical …. We needed to hear about this in his confirmation hearing.
A chapter in Hegseth’s book is literally titled “More Lethality, Less Lawyers.”
It’s almost as if there were signs!
It’s almost as if there were signs!
November 29, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Thing is, we DID hear about it at his confirmation hearing.
Every single senator who voted to confirm Hegseth knew he held these views about the laws of war.
They voted to confirm him anyway.
Every single senator who voted to confirm Hegseth knew he held these views about the laws of war.
They voted to confirm him anyway.
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
CNN ANCHOR: As President Trump's approval ratings drop, how can Democrats harness the protest movements we see today?
HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well I call him President Parachute Pants ok? Too much ballroom. Yet he's fumbling the ball of protecting healthcare. So I urge all Americans to obey federal agents.
HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well I call him President Parachute Pants ok? Too much ballroom. Yet he's fumbling the ball of protecting healthcare. So I urge all Americans to obey federal agents.
November 2, 2025 at 9:59 PM
CNN ANCHOR: As President Trump's approval ratings drop, how can Democrats harness the protest movements we see today?
HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well I call him President Parachute Pants ok? Too much ballroom. Yet he's fumbling the ball of protecting healthcare. So I urge all Americans to obey federal agents.
HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well I call him President Parachute Pants ok? Too much ballroom. Yet he's fumbling the ball of protecting healthcare. So I urge all Americans to obey federal agents.
one thing ive found since upping my dose of T is uh my compliments have gotten more aggressive
November 29, 2025 at 5:14 AM
one thing ive found since upping my dose of T is uh my compliments have gotten more aggressive
Reposted by Tal B. Lavin
if youre trans and youre struggling to justify why you as a person should be allowed to take up space in the universe just consider that by your sheer existence you make a lot of the worst people on earth mad enough that they will die early deaths from stress. so thats a p good reason
November 21, 2025 at 1:37 AM
if youre trans and youre struggling to justify why you as a person should be allowed to take up space in the universe just consider that by your sheer existence you make a lot of the worst people on earth mad enough that they will die early deaths from stress. so thats a p good reason
last post about this is that
this guy's butt is the best butt ive ever seen on a human being
his butt will not quit
it's refusing a buyout. it's unionizing. it's reforming the work culture. it's going to earn out its pension. this butt will NEVER quit
this guy's butt is the best butt ive ever seen on a human being
his butt will not quit
it's refusing a buyout. it's unionizing. it's reforming the work culture. it's going to earn out its pension. this butt will NEVER quit
after watching the first 2 episodes of heated rivalry im
incoherent
conor storie's butt should be like. cast in plaster and displayed in the louvre maybe? but safely where thieves cant get it, it's a treasure of humankind
incoherent
conor storie's butt should be like. cast in plaster and displayed in the louvre maybe? but safely where thieves cant get it, it's a treasure of humankind
November 29, 2025 at 3:19 AM
last post about this is that
this guy's butt is the best butt ive ever seen on a human being
his butt will not quit
it's refusing a buyout. it's unionizing. it's reforming the work culture. it's going to earn out its pension. this butt will NEVER quit
this guy's butt is the best butt ive ever seen on a human being
his butt will not quit
it's refusing a buyout. it's unionizing. it's reforming the work culture. it's going to earn out its pension. this butt will NEVER quit