Acilius
@acilius.bsky.social
When I was in third grade, one of my classmates couldn't stop talking about his favorite toy, a Ouija board. He recently reconnected with me online. Turns out he's now a colonel in the Air Force, in charge of polygraph testing for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Service.
December 27, 2025 at 8:58 PM
When I was in third grade, one of my classmates couldn't stop talking about his favorite toy, a Ouija board. He recently reconnected with me online. Turns out he's now a colonel in the Air Force, in charge of polygraph testing for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Service.
Changing your name never gets you free of a really determined stalker. I'm sure the day came when Jasper Carrott heard a knock on the door and an all-too-familiar voice cried "Come out and face me, you wascal!"
December 26, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Changing your name never gets you free of a really determined stalker. I'm sure the day came when Jasper Carrott heard a knock on the door and an all-too-familiar voice cried "Come out and face me, you wascal!"
Long before I knew Trump grew up as a member of Norman Vincent Peale's congregation, I suspected that The Power of Positive Thinking was a post-Christian cult.
December 26, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Long before I knew Trump grew up as a member of Norman Vincent Peale's congregation, I suspected that The Power of Positive Thinking was a post-Christian cult.
To me, you'll always be the Rev'd Cn Dr Dr Slade. (Until you become a bishop, at which point you'll be Her Grace, the Rt Rev'd Dr Dr.)
December 23, 2025 at 8:05 PM
To me, you'll always be the Rev'd Cn Dr Dr Slade. (Until you become a bishop, at which point you'll be Her Grace, the Rt Rev'd Dr Dr.)
One of the reasons I didn't get confirmed until I was 40 was that I couldn't bring myself to be a member of the denomination responsible for Trinity Wall Street. But, John 6:68 and all that.
December 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
One of the reasons I didn't get confirmed until I was 40 was that I couldn't bring myself to be a member of the denomination responsible for Trinity Wall Street. But, John 6:68 and all that.
The movie is interesting. Grayson Hall, as Miss Fellowes, is the only person associated with the production who knows what she's doing, but she does it so well you can almost reconstruct the play by watching her. It's too bad she didn't get the Oscar she was nominated for.
December 23, 2025 at 3:45 AM
The movie is interesting. Grayson Hall, as Miss Fellowes, is the only person associated with the production who knows what she's doing, but she does it so well you can almost reconstruct the play by watching her. It's too bad she didn't get the Oscar she was nominated for.
34 years ago, I reacted to the news that Spike Lee had cast Denzel Washington as Malcolm X with righteous indignation at an imaginary film on the same topic starring George Peppard in the role. He would have been a terrible choice!
December 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
34 years ago, I reacted to the news that Spike Lee had cast Denzel Washington as Malcolm X with righteous indignation at an imaginary film on the same topic starring George Peppard in the role. He would have been a terrible choice!
Trump is, first and foremost, a figure from Reality TV. Which is to say, from improv. And the first rule of improv is that you never contradict your scene partner's premise. Whether he's planning to punish Wiles or not, he's going to run with what she's given him for as long as it gets attention.
December 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Trump is, first and foremost, a figure from Reality TV. Which is to say, from improv. And the first rule of improv is that you never contradict your scene partner's premise. Whether he's planning to punish Wiles or not, he's going to run with what she's given him for as long as it gets attention.
In fairness, Savage does document that there was intentional discrimination against white males in entry-level screenwriting in the years when they went from being over-represented in those positions (almost 50%) to being underrepresented (11.8%) But again, who cares? Hollywood is dead anyway.
December 17, 2025 at 3:49 PM
In fairness, Savage does document that there was intentional discrimination against white males in entry-level screenwriting in the years when they went from being over-represented in those positions (almost 50%) to being underrepresented (11.8%) But again, who cares? Hollywood is dead anyway.
I'd take this discourse more seriously if there wasn't so much focus on academia, journalism, show business, and other fields where success has always been a longshot.
December 17, 2025 at 1:46 AM
I'd take this discourse more seriously if there wasn't so much focus on academia, journalism, show business, and other fields where success has always been a longshot.
Most of Trump's fans know and have always known that he's a sicko. They just take a perverse pleasure in it. They may wince when he says something they don't think is funny, but they keep coming back for the next hit.
December 16, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Most of Trump's fans know and have always known that he's a sicko. They just take a perverse pleasure in it. They may wince when he says something they don't think is funny, but they keep coming back for the next hit.
Most of Trump's fans know and have always known that he's a sicko. They just take a perverse pleasure in it. They may wince when he says something they don't think is funny, but they keep coming back for the next hit.
December 16, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Most of Trump's fans know and have always known that he's a sicko. They just take a perverse pleasure in it. They may wince when he says something they don't think is funny, but they keep coming back for the next hit.
Sounds like someone is still smarting from the clean sweep the Communist Labor Party (Pabloist) made in the Racisttown, MO town board elections last year.
December 15, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Sounds like someone is still smarting from the clean sweep the Communist Labor Party (Pabloist) made in the Racisttown, MO town board elections last year.
The players don't like to pay taxes and look up to businesspeople, but they are super-competitive individuals who can imagine nothing worse than coming off like a loser. And young guys who work in big cities and have connections to show business see sullen right-wingers as losers.
December 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
The players don't like to pay taxes and look up to businesspeople, but they are super-competitive individuals who can imagine nothing worse than coming off like a loser. And young guys who work in big cities and have connections to show business see sullen right-wingers as losers.
If I were advising Newsom, well, first I would advise him to go away, he gets on my nerves. But second I would advise him to say exactly this. You can't very well say "Vote for me even though I turn your stomach." You can imply "You're going to get someone who turns your stomach, may as well be me."
December 14, 2025 at 4:56 PM
If I were advising Newsom, well, first I would advise him to go away, he gets on my nerves. But second I would advise him to say exactly this. You can't very well say "Vote for me even though I turn your stomach." You can imply "You're going to get someone who turns your stomach, may as well be me."
Dunno, the network newscasts might draw bigger ratings if they really went into depth on the latest developments in REX MORGAN, MD.
December 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Dunno, the network newscasts might draw bigger ratings if they really went into depth on the latest developments in REX MORGAN, MD.
I do think we should remember that the title is one they borrowed from the British monarchy. King Charles has a bunch of very impressive uniforms and was, in his day, a conscientious young naval officer, but he does not claim that he has the authority to enforce his claim to the throne of France.
December 14, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I do think we should remember that the title is one they borrowed from the British monarchy. King Charles has a bunch of very impressive uniforms and was, in his day, a conscientious young naval officer, but he does not claim that he has the authority to enforce his claim to the throne of France.
In 1981, Indiana's Republican controlled legislature drew a map that was supposed to give them near-total control of the state's Congressional delegation. They overreached, and actually lost seats under it. I suspect some in Indianapolis still remember that long-ago "dummymander."
December 11, 2025 at 11:09 PM
In 1981, Indiana's Republican controlled legislature drew a map that was supposed to give them near-total control of the state's Congressional delegation. They overreached, and actually lost seats under it. I suspect some in Indianapolis still remember that long-ago "dummymander."
(By the way, the leader of the non-stupid survivors is an elderly Jewish socialist who is a US Senator from an upper New England state. The book was published the year the 24 year old Bernie Sanders first moved to Vermont.)
December 10, 2025 at 9:30 PM
(By the way, the leader of the non-stupid survivors is an elderly Jewish socialist who is a US Senator from an upper New England state. The book was published the year the 24 year old Bernie Sanders first moved to Vermont.)
Someone must have.
Peter George didn't, but he came close in a novel called COMMANDER-1. Human civilization is refounded by the commander of a US nuclear sub. Unfortunately he is the worst officer to hold that position, whose boat survived only because of a dumb mistake of his.
Peter George didn't, but he came close in a novel called COMMANDER-1. Human civilization is refounded by the commander of a US nuclear sub. Unfortunately he is the worst officer to hold that position, whose boat survived only because of a dumb mistake of his.
December 10, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Someone must have.
Peter George didn't, but he came close in a novel called COMMANDER-1. Human civilization is refounded by the commander of a US nuclear sub. Unfortunately he is the worst officer to hold that position, whose boat survived only because of a dumb mistake of his.
Peter George didn't, but he came close in a novel called COMMANDER-1. Human civilization is refounded by the commander of a US nuclear sub. Unfortunately he is the worst officer to hold that position, whose boat survived only because of a dumb mistake of his.
Louis Malle's PRETTY BABY. Every couple of minutes you come to a moment that's like getting punched in the gut by a professional heavyweight.
December 10, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Louis Malle's PRETTY BABY. Every couple of minutes you come to a moment that's like getting punched in the gut by a professional heavyweight.