Mike Duncan
@theophrastean.bsky.social
Professor in Texas. Rhetoric, technical communication, composition, early Christianity. I also like games. https://badrhetoric.com/about/
Every time I see someone touted as a sure presidential candidate, I think about how big of a number 340,000,000 is, and how, surely, somewhere in that number, there are at least 10,000 better choices.
November 17, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Every time I see someone touted as a sure presidential candidate, I think about how big of a number 340,000,000 is, and how, surely, somewhere in that number, there are at least 10,000 better choices.
“It fades up quickly and begins with 55 seconds of tape hiss… concluding with a slow and poignant fadeout.”
If only humanity can see fit to acquit itself as well as that.
If only humanity can see fit to acquit itself as well as that.
Paul McCartney joins music industry protest against AI with silent track
Former Beatle and artists including Sam Fender, Kate Bush and Hans Zimmer record silent LP Is This What We Want
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:09 AM
“It fades up quickly and begins with 55 seconds of tape hiss… concluding with a slow and poignant fadeout.”
If only humanity can see fit to acquit itself as well as that.
If only humanity can see fit to acquit itself as well as that.
Reposted by Mike Duncan
🚨”Today it’s Texas A&M. Tomorrow it will be every public university in a red state. The day after that, it will be private universities bowing to billionaire donors who want to reshape campuses in their own image. And after that, it will be K–12.”
drstaceypatton1865.substack.com/p/leaked-tex...
drstaceypatton1865.substack.com/p/leaked-tex...
Leaked Texas A&M Document Exposes a Chilling Blueprint for Silencing Race and Gender in Higher Ed
This Substack is reader-supported.
drstaceypatton1865.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM
🚨”Today it’s Texas A&M. Tomorrow it will be every public university in a red state. The day after that, it will be private universities bowing to billionaire donors who want to reshape campuses in their own image. And after that, it will be K–12.”
drstaceypatton1865.substack.com/p/leaked-tex...
drstaceypatton1865.substack.com/p/leaked-tex...
Reposted by Mike Duncan
Jim Ryan wrote a letter to UVA detailing his "resignation" and I'm gonna get some fresh tea before I read it because I feel pretty certain I'm gonna be filled with righteous anger by the end
I'll do a thread but here's the full letter provided by the chronicle
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
I'll do a thread but here's the full letter provided by the chronicle
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Jim Ryan letter
www.documentcloud.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Jim Ryan wrote a letter to UVA detailing his "resignation" and I'm gonna get some fresh tea before I read it because I feel pretty certain I'm gonna be filled with righteous anger by the end
I'll do a thread but here's the full letter provided by the chronicle
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
I'll do a thread but here's the full letter provided by the chronicle
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by Mike Duncan
A companion paper written by Dr. Leonard McCoy was published along side it with the title, “Vulcans. The f*** is wrong with them?”
Among its conclusions was a recommendation to schedule sexual intercourse at shorter intervals rather than the standard 7 years
Among its conclusions was a recommendation to schedule sexual intercourse at shorter intervals rather than the standard 7 years
November 13, 2025 at 10:26 PM
A companion paper written by Dr. Leonard McCoy was published along side it with the title, “Vulcans. The f*** is wrong with them?”
Among its conclusions was a recommendation to schedule sexual intercourse at shorter intervals rather than the standard 7 years
Among its conclusions was a recommendation to schedule sexual intercourse at shorter intervals rather than the standard 7 years
Reposted by Mike Duncan
One of my earliest moments of radicalization was in 2005 when Larry Summers said that women biologically have less aptitude for science than men. Following that, scores of equally unimpressive people wrote pieces trying to explain or justify his remarks, when they should have called for his removal.
November 12, 2025 at 5:13 PM
One of my earliest moments of radicalization was in 2005 when Larry Summers said that women biologically have less aptitude for science than men. Following that, scores of equally unimpressive people wrote pieces trying to explain or justify his remarks, when they should have called for his removal.
In middle of late-semester chaos, I’ve been having a lot of fun with The Last Caretaker. Turns out I needed some time as a robot with questionable battery life and a trusty garbage scow.
Save 10% on The Last Caretaker on Steam
The Last Caretaker is a thoughtful take on the survival-crafting genre, where every decision you make and every action has a consequence. It offers a deep world exploration experience where step-by-st...
store.steampowered.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:04 PM
In middle of late-semester chaos, I’ve been having a lot of fun with The Last Caretaker. Turns out I needed some time as a robot with questionable battery life and a trusty garbage scow.
Reposted by Mike Duncan
Faculty panel determined Dr. Melissa MCoul’s firing was based on the content of her course and a violation of her academic freedom. Administration ignored the finding. Another violation of due process in this egregious case.
Texas A&M faculty panel report says professor's firing violated her academic freedom www.texastribune.org/2025/11/10/t...
Texas A&M panel: Firing violated professor’s academic freedom
University officials dispute the faculty council’s conclusion. Melissa McCoul lost her job after a video of a classroom debate went viral.
www.texastribune.org
November 11, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Faculty panel determined Dr. Melissa MCoul’s firing was based on the content of her course and a violation of her academic freedom. Administration ignored the finding. Another violation of due process in this egregious case.
Reposted by Mike Duncan
OSCAR ISAAC, on whether he'd return to "Star Wars":
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Oscar Isaac Was ‘Not So Open to Working With Disney’ After Jimmy Kimmel Suspension, Said He’d Return to ‘Star Wars’ if Disney Does ‘Not Succumb to Fascism’
Oscar Isaac was not open to working with Disney after Jimmy Kimmel's suspension and will only return to 'Star Wars' if the studio avoids fascism.
variety.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
OSCAR ISAAC, on whether he'd return to "Star Wars":
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Reposted by Mike Duncan
🔔 NEW: “The Texas State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP-TXST) has issued a formal appeal urging the Texas State University System Board Regents to abide by its own rules and reverse the summary dismissal of tenured history professor Dr. Thomas Alter.”
AAUP-TXST Calls on Texas State University System Regents to Defend Academic Freedom and Due Process
A Union of Professionals
www.texasaft.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
🔔 NEW: “The Texas State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP-TXST) has issued a formal appeal urging the Texas State University System Board Regents to abide by its own rules and reverse the summary dismissal of tenured history professor Dr. Thomas Alter.”
Reposted by Mike Duncan
🚨🚨 Texas A&M Board of Regents is meeting next week and set to approve a new policy requiring pre-approval of courses on race and gender. This is a blatant violation of academic freedom.
November 8, 2025 at 8:06 PM
🚨🚨 Texas A&M Board of Regents is meeting next week and set to approve a new policy requiring pre-approval of courses on race and gender. This is a blatant violation of academic freedom.
Extra Life is rocking along so far. Helps if you get some sleep before a 24-hour charity gaming marathon…
November 8, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Extra Life is rocking along so far. Helps if you get some sleep before a 24-hour charity gaming marathon…
I’m not prepared to say I have bounced off of EU5’s interface. Not yet. I’ll give it a longer try tomorrow during Extra Life.
But I find it visually off-putting so far. EU4 and CK3 and HOI4 are gorgeous buffets.
But I find it visually off-putting so far. EU4 and CK3 and HOI4 are gorgeous buffets.
November 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I’m not prepared to say I have bounced off of EU5’s interface. Not yet. I’ll give it a longer try tomorrow during Extra Life.
But I find it visually off-putting so far. EU4 and CK3 and HOI4 are gorgeous buffets.
But I find it visually off-putting so far. EU4 and CK3 and HOI4 are gorgeous buffets.
Mandani’s victory speech was pretty damn good.
I’ve never lived in New York so I don’t fully grok the importance of the mayorship. To me it’s just a expensive city that George Washington left to the British in favor of Pennsylvania.
Let’s see if he can make something of it.
I’ve never lived in New York so I don’t fully grok the importance of the mayorship. To me it’s just a expensive city that George Washington left to the British in favor of Pennsylvania.
Let’s see if he can make something of it.
November 5, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Mandani’s victory speech was pretty damn good.
I’ve never lived in New York so I don’t fully grok the importance of the mayorship. To me it’s just a expensive city that George Washington left to the British in favor of Pennsylvania.
Let’s see if he can make something of it.
I’ve never lived in New York so I don’t fully grok the importance of the mayorship. To me it’s just a expensive city that George Washington left to the British in favor of Pennsylvania.
Let’s see if he can make something of it.
Reposted by Mike Duncan
"Bury him face down." This barn burner of an obit might feel hyperbolic to people who entered the world in the wake of 9/11; it's not. Cheney was one of the architects of today's American Christian conservatism. He was directly responsible for millions of deaths. Salt the earth where he's buried.
Dick Cheney departs the world he made: defector.com/dick-cheney-...
Dick Cheney Departs The World He Made | Defector
At its heart, American conservatism is a fantasy. It’s a vision of a world too evil to be saved or cared about, and fearsome enough to justify any and every impulse toward cruelty and violence that a…
defector.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
"Bury him face down." This barn burner of an obit might feel hyperbolic to people who entered the world in the wake of 9/11; it's not. Cheney was one of the architects of today's American Christian conservatism. He was directly responsible for millions of deaths. Salt the earth where he's buried.
Reposted by Mike Duncan
Another supposed defense of academic freedom that foregrounds professor responsibilities, but nothing about the responsibilities of university administrators and the bad things that happen when they look the other way. That’s the real problem we’re facing.
November 4, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Another supposed defense of academic freedom that foregrounds professor responsibilities, but nothing about the responsibilities of university administrators and the bad things that happen when they look the other way. That’s the real problem we’re facing.
Me: I think the title of your study begs the question and you should rethink your methodology.
JJJ: I really don’t see the problem.
Me: Your title is SPIDERMAN: THREAT OR MENACE.
JJJ: I don’t think you’re a good fit for my advisor. Parker! Get me another professor!
JJJ: I really don’t see the problem.
Me: Your title is SPIDERMAN: THREAT OR MENACE.
JJJ: I don’t think you’re a good fit for my advisor. Parker! Get me another professor!
November 4, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Me: I think the title of your study begs the question and you should rethink your methodology.
JJJ: I really don’t see the problem.
Me: Your title is SPIDERMAN: THREAT OR MENACE.
JJJ: I don’t think you’re a good fit for my advisor. Parker! Get me another professor!
JJJ: I really don’t see the problem.
Me: Your title is SPIDERMAN: THREAT OR MENACE.
JJJ: I don’t think you’re a good fit for my advisor. Parker! Get me another professor!
I’d like the world to be better off tomorrow than it was today.
I don’t think this has actually happened since I was born, or before, but I keep the sentiment regardless.
I don’t think this has actually happened since I was born, or before, but I keep the sentiment regardless.
November 3, 2025 at 6:18 AM
I’d like the world to be better off tomorrow than it was today.
I don’t think this has actually happened since I was born, or before, but I keep the sentiment regardless.
I don’t think this has actually happened since I was born, or before, but I keep the sentiment regardless.
Reposted by Mike Duncan
This is from Autocracy, Inc, about how modern autocratic propaganda works.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
November 2, 2025 at 12:04 PM
This is from Autocracy, Inc, about how modern autocratic propaganda works.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
It’s #extralife time.
November 8, I’m gaming for 24 hours on Twitch for Extra Life, a community of gamers and affiliated children’s hospitals.
I’m playing for Texas Children’s. It’s my fifth year. For the stream and how to donate, www.extra-life.org/participants...
November 8, I’m gaming for 24 hours on Twitch for Extra Life, a community of gamers and affiliated children’s hospitals.
I’m playing for Texas Children’s. It’s my fifth year. For the stream and how to donate, www.extra-life.org/participants...
Extra Life | Change Kids' Health, Change the Future
I'm raising funds with #EXTRALIFE for kids treated at my Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! I need your help to reach my fundraising goal. Please donate today to change kids' health.
www.extra-life.org
November 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
It’s #extralife time.
November 8, I’m gaming for 24 hours on Twitch for Extra Life, a community of gamers and affiliated children’s hospitals.
I’m playing for Texas Children’s. It’s my fifth year. For the stream and how to donate, www.extra-life.org/participants...
November 8, I’m gaming for 24 hours on Twitch for Extra Life, a community of gamers and affiliated children’s hospitals.
I’m playing for Texas Children’s. It’s my fifth year. For the stream and how to donate, www.extra-life.org/participants...
Reposted by Mike Duncan
The anti-vaccine movement has the same talking points now as it did in the 1800’s. It’s always been a rejection of science, scientists, and progress, with a soupçon of paranoia.
Below is a slide for a talk I’m preparing that illustrates the identical strategies. I have more examples, too.
Below is a slide for a talk I’m preparing that illustrates the identical strategies. I have more examples, too.
![Slide with the title “The anti-vaccination movement has no new material”.
Montague R. Leverson,
Lawyer, Liar, Quack
1895
Robert F. Kennedy, Lawyer, Liar, Quack
2025
Accuse expert vaccine advisory committees of pro-vaccine "bias"
"That commission was deliberately packed at its very outset..."
"The committee has been plagued with persistent conflicts of interest and has become little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine".
Falsely state that vaccines cause death
"Vaccination has caused more deaths and diseases than ever has smallpox".
"This [COVID19 vaccine] is the deadliest vaccine ever made..."
Claim that healthcare practitioners and scientists are only in it for the money, not because of scientific evidence
"...Jenner was a mercenary charlatan whose ignorance and impatience of scientific methods were equaled only by his mendacity..."
"Doctors are being paid to vaccinate, not to evaluate. They're pressured to follow the money, not the science".
Use false and inflammatory words about vaccines
The "Blood-poisoning process of vaccination"
"They went on a search... looking for the most toxic things that they could find...to](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:flwgfsh2mhpoqwjwwt2mesjv/bafkreiawfvj625afa5wnrcyjftu3y2gjlyw377ksesk54mypnnln737t6i@jpeg)
November 1, 2025 at 11:22 PM
The anti-vaccine movement has the same talking points now as it did in the 1800’s. It’s always been a rejection of science, scientists, and progress, with a soupçon of paranoia.
Below is a slide for a talk I’m preparing that illustrates the identical strategies. I have more examples, too.
Below is a slide for a talk I’m preparing that illustrates the identical strategies. I have more examples, too.
Reposted by Mike Duncan
Questing for Glory will be out soon. Included within the book is a writeup on the homebrew pinball game I made that recreates the entirety of QFG1 in pinball form - thank you for the inclusion @qfgbook.bsky.social!
Ever played a pinball machine with a maximum number of puzzle points?
Ever played a pinball machine with a maximum number of puzzle points?
Are you ready for play Quest for Glory like you've never played it before? (Photo courtesy of @faogames.bsky.social, whose creation this is, for inclusion in the book!)
November 1, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Questing for Glory will be out soon. Included within the book is a writeup on the homebrew pinball game I made that recreates the entirety of QFG1 in pinball form - thank you for the inclusion @qfgbook.bsky.social!
Ever played a pinball machine with a maximum number of puzzle points?
Ever played a pinball machine with a maximum number of puzzle points?
Wait, they’re making another Underrail? Why yes, I have approximately 100 hours of life I don’t feel attached to.
store.steampowered.com/app/694320/U...
store.steampowered.com/app/694320/U...
UnderRail 2: Infusion on Steam
An immersive isometric turn-based RPG where you assume the role of a scavenger. Wandering through the ruins of a fallen civilization, scavengers make their living scouring a vast system of metro stati...
store.steampowered.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Wait, they’re making another Underrail? Why yes, I have approximately 100 hours of life I don’t feel attached to.
store.steampowered.com/app/694320/U...
store.steampowered.com/app/694320/U...
Everytime I read the latest news I think the next story is gotta be that Xmas is cancelled.
a man with curly hair and a beard is smiling in front of candles
ALT: a man with curly hair and a beard is smiling in front of candles
media.tenor.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Everytime I read the latest news I think the next story is gotta be that Xmas is cancelled.