Paul Adasiak
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amicusthespis.bsky.social
Paul Adasiak
@amicusthespis.bsky.social
610 followers 400 following 800 posts
Actor, director, librarian, city-lover on Lower Tanana Dene land (downtown Fairbanks, Alaska). Anti-racist, anti-fascist, anti-patriarchy. Love me some radical politics and modern plays. And Star Trek. He/him/his.

#AlaskaSky
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amicusthespis.bsky.social
Ever wondered how bad a letter has to be, for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner NOT to publish it? Here is your answer: Unless there's a two-week backlog, they've consigned my LTE to the memory hole. Apparently they draw the line at calling Moms For Liberty "creepy."
HAIR-SPLITTING TO DECEIVE If you're in a conversation about men abusing girls, and someone chimes in with "Actually, the right word here is 'hebephilia,' since true pedophilia is evolutionarily maladaptive" — your inner alarms should sound. The man splitting that hair may be technically correct, but for this conversation the distinction isn't morally relevant. Unless perhaps he thinks it is? — in which case, you have good cause to suspect that he's creepy and to keep your children far away from him. I feel the same way about our local Moms for Liberty chapter chair, Gail McBride. In her recent letter (October 14, "Lies told often"), she tries to assure us that Moms for Liberty isn't engaged in book banning. "There actually is no book banning," she tells us (as I paraphrase), "since a 'ban' is an official prohibition on publication, sale, or ownership of material. Why are people lying?" As someone who values careful word choice in his own writing, I appreciate the distinctions between censorship, banning, book challenges, and the like. But also I'm over 50 years old and I've been speaking English my entire life. At this point, I understand that some terms have both a technical meaning and and a colloquial meaning. Plus, I've gotten better at listening to people's intent rather than to the strict and literal meaning of their words. So it's plain to me, and I hope to you, that Ms. McBride ignores the colloquial but valid definition of 'banning' in order to distract you from her intent, namely, to restrict what your children can read. This is M4L's central mission: reducing the availability of books that young people find relevant to their own lives. When Gail McBride insists that M4L is not engaged in book banning, she may be technically correct. But for most conversations the distinction isn't morally relevant; she splits hairs only to show a forked tongue. We have good cause to suspect that any "Moms for Liberty" are creepy and to keep our children far away from them. This letter doesn't represent the opinions of my employer or of any organizations I participate in.
November 19, 2025 at 5:03 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
In case you’re wondering, this has been an extended metaphor for the followers of murdered podcaster Charlie Kirk. Evidence is abundant of Kirk’s racism, sexism, xenophobia, transphobia, and other supremacies (see examples at bit.ly/CK-quotes) — as abundant as the evidence of his inciting his millions-strong audience to supremacist violence. His statements don’t require “context”; they require our full-chested condemnation. They are simply unacceptable in a democratic society. When you insist that Kirk’s supremacist speech deserves context, we have to ask: Why is this not a deal-breaker? Do you realize that it’s OK to condemn it? And what in heaven’s name is wrong with you?
October 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
it’s eaten. “That can’t be right,” you answer. “It tastes perfectly normal, like the salads I grew up eating.” OK, your friends reply, shuddering slightly. But it also has dog feces. “It’s so delicious that it’s inspired many young Americans to eat more salad. I give out their recipe so others can make it too!” Yes, but it also has dog feces. “But this salad is a comfort food that nourishes millions!” Yes — again, a slight shudder — but it also has dog feces. “Stop twisting this into an exaggerated narrative! All you know is what’s in your ‘report.’ Why don’t you eat some of the salad, so you can understand? It’s made mainly of organic, locally grown arugula, spinach, tomatoes, and radishes. That’s the context you’re missing!”
October 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
My LTE in today's News-Miner. The letter's unofficial title is "Charlie Kirk: The Dogshit Salad of American Political Discourse."
The importance, and non-importance, of context To the editor: Imagine you’re out to dinner with your family at a popular restaurant chain, enjoying their renowned salad, your favorite. A couple of friends come in and sit nearby. They warn you that the salad has been found to have dog feces in it: not just this salad you’re eating, and not just at this one restaurant, but in all the salads at all this chain’s locations. They show you the reports: according to test results, the salad has caused higher-than-average rates of food poisoning (and even death) where
October 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
Dear @alaskaairlines.bsky.social — I'm cool with the pink ribbon for breast cancer, but not with symbols of Christian nationalism like the one at center here. Please address this at the policy level.

Oct 9, Flt 229, SEA > MSP
Alaska Airlines flight attendant with the uniform "wings" pin, a colored pocket square, what appears to be a pink-ribbon pin, and one presumably Christian cross pin styled after the U.S. flag.
October 9, 2025 at 10:32 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
This may be painful to learn about people you thought were worth respecting. But the good news is that you don't have to accept their horrific values! You can turn your back on their hate and (once you're eighteen) never tolerate it in your life again! Please, young friends: shake off the forces celebrating such a violently hateful person, the forces that would pollute your gentle hearts. Build instead a life where you embrace love, humility, and compassion. A lifelong Alaskan, Paul Adasiak is a professional librarian, a father of two young adults, and an advocate for secular, inclusive, multiracial democracy.
October 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
"How horrid!" you exclaim. "But what does it mean that after his murder Charlie Kirk is being honored by my social clubs, my politicians, and my parents?" Your social clubs praise Charlie Kirk in order to groom you into cruelty. They want you to believe that the rights of others to life and dignity can be constantly debated and ultimately denied. Your politicians call Charlie Kirk "a wonderful human being" to signal that their commitment to democracy is only for show. They favor disenfranchising (to various degrees) anybody who's not a white, Christian, cisgender man. Your parents revere Charlie Kirk because they hope that you'll grow up to be either a slave master or his brood mare. For you they seek the reproductive mission of enlarging and empowering the "white race."
October 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
"America was at its peak when we halted immigration for 40 years and we dropped our foreign-born percentage to its lowest level ever. We should be unafraid to do that." "I think 'empathy' is a made-up, new-age term that does a lot of damage." "Reject feminism. Submit to your husband, Taylor [Swift]. You're not in charge." "Democrat women want to die alone without children." "There is no separation of church and state. It's a fabrication. It's a fiction. It's not in the Constitution. It's made up by secular humanists." "The Bible says very clearly to 'Occupy until I come.'" So we can see that Charlie Kirk was a white supremacist and a Christian nationalist. He used his massive audience to terrorize and silence those he disagreed with. Through his podcast and his "Prove me wrong!" style of publicly bullying college students, he sought to keep women subservient and to return our country's browner people to a state of permanent subjugation and degradation.
October 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
"I have a very, very radical view on this, but I can defend it, and I've thought about it. We made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s." "Thou shall lay with another man, shall be stoned to death. Just saying... The chapter… affirms God's perfect law when it comes to sexual matters." "The transgender thing happening in America right now is a throbbing middle finger to God." "We need to have a Nuremberg-style trial for every gender-affirming clinic doctor." "America has freedom of religion, of course, but we should be frank: large dedicated Islamic areas are a threat to America." "Are you comfortable with both London and New York having Muslim mayors? That doesn't feel right." "Islam is the sword the left is using to slit the throat of America."
October 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
His beliefs are on full display for anyone wanting to know the truth: "If I see a Black pilot, I'm going to be like, 'Whoa, I hope he's qualified.'" "They [African Americans] were actually better in the 1940s. It was bad. It was evil. But what happened? Something changed. They committed less crimes." "Happening all the time in urban America, prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people, that's a fact. It's happening more and more." "You [some of our country's most powerful Black women] do not have the brain processing power to be taken really seriously. You had to go steal a white person's slot to go be taken somewhat seriously." "We need armed militias to prevent the diminishing of white demographics."
October 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
This morning's News-Miner ran my Community Perspective, "Who Was Charlie Kirk: A Young Person's Introduction": www.newsminer.com/opinion/comm...
WHO WAS CHARLIE KIRK? A YOUNG PERSON'S INTRODUCTION To my young friends of Fairbanks: In the weeks since the horrific murder of Charlie Kirk, his legacy has only grown. Kirk's memorial service drew a crowd of nearly a hundred thousand admirers to an Arizona stadium, featuring headliners from the current administration who applauded his faith and praised him as a martyr for freedom. Yet a lot of hostile malcontents apparently GLORIFY Kirk's murder, saying the most repugnant things about his work and legacy. It may be confusing to see these wildly differing opinions about someone so celebrated. You're probably wondering: "Who was Charlie Kirk? And what does it mean that someone revered by so many adults in my life is so disliked by others?"
October 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
When a mayoral candidate like David Pruhs of Fairbanks tells you he admires a white supremacist, Christian nationalist, and stochastic terrorist, please LISTEN. And BELIEVE HIM.
Letter to the editor on mayoral candidate David Pruhs from Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 22 September 2025. Header is "Pay attention when they show you who they are."
September 22, 2025 at 3:11 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
Fairbanks: "Yoga Play" got a good review in the News-Miner. You still have two weekends to come and see! Tix and further information: fairbanksdrama.org
Review for "Yoga Play" produced by Fairbanks Drama Association, from Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 11 September 2025, page L3.
September 11, 2025 at 5:05 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
Fairbanks: the comedy "Yoga Play" opens TONIGHT! We run for three weekends. Don't miss your chance — tickets and information at fairbanksdrama.org.

(43-second video)
September 6, 2025 at 2:09 AM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
Tickets and information at www.fairbanksdrama.org
Rectangular poster advertising Yoga Play a comedy by Dipika Guha, produced by Fairbanks Drama Association & Fairbanks Children's Theatre. In the center in front of a sunset is a seated, cross-legged yogi in silhouette, holding a cell phone.
September 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
Three weeks to opening. This play's a laugh riot. Y'all (in Fairbanks) are gonna love it.
Fairbanks Drama Association & Fairbanks Children's Theatre Proudly Presents Yoga Play, a comedy By Dipika Guha, Directed by Paul Adasiak.
August 15, 2025 at 6:48 AM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
Fairbanks: UPCOMING AUDITIONS, July 13-15!

Dipika Guha's "Yoga Play" is a laugh-riot comedy about corporate greed, cultural appropriation, and the struggle for personal authenticity in a commercialized world. Join us in the cast or on the creative team.

#AlaskaSky #TheaterBSKY
Audition flyer for "Yoga Play" by Dipika Guha, produced by Fairbanks Drama Association, directed by Paul Adasiak. Auditions July 13-15, 2025, performances September 5-21 (Fri/Sat/Sun).
July 12, 2025 at 10:09 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
YOGIS OF FAIRBANKS! Do you have an itch to perform? Entertain and amaze audiences with asanas in a laugh-riot comedy about the yoga-wear industry. Contact me to learn more.
Bring yoga to the stage! Seeking yoga practitioners with an itch to perform. Entertain and amaze audiences with asanas during scene changes and intermissions in a laugh-riot comedy about the yoga-wear industry. Practitioners of all ages, ethnicities, genders, and sizes are welcome. Rehearsals including yogis will start August 24. (Individual practice will be done by then.) Performances will be on September 5-21: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:00. Please contact director Paul Adasiak <pfadasiak@gmail.com>.
July 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
Fairbanks: UPCOMING AUDITIONS, July 13-15!

I'm not supposed to reveal the title for a couple more weeks, but FDA's season-opener is a comedy about corporate greed, cultural appropriation, and the struggle for authenticity in a consumerist culture.

If your friends may be interested, pass it along!
Square flyer with green, orange, and white borders and the blurred silhouette of a person in a seated yoga position. At the top: Auditions for [BLURRED TEXT] a comedy by [BLURRED TEXT]. The title and author of the play have been blurred. Over them is a text block reading: the play will be revealed at our 23rd Annual MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATER event, Saturday, July 12! The flyer continues: Roles: Female, white, age 35-60; Male, white, age 40-65; Male, South Asian, age 20-50; Male, East or Southeast Asian, age 20-50; Female, Latin American, age 20-30. Actors outside these age ranges are welcome, as are gender-nonconforming actors. Auditions: July 13 at 2:00, July 14-15 at 6:30 in the Riverfront Theatre lobby. Performances: September 5-21, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:00. Questions? Contact director Paul Adasiak <pfadasiak@gmail.com>
June 27, 2025 at 6:22 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
Fairbanks: Acting opportunities for Asian men!

My September play, a comedy, includes two Asian characters, one Indian and one Singaporean. Curious? Give me a shout. All accents and body types are welcome, as are gender-nonconforming actors. No previous theater experience is needed.

(Please share!)
Three copies of a horizontal flyer inviting South Asian men ages 20-50 to audition for an upcoming comedy. The reader is invited to contact director Paul Adasiak to ask about "Yoga Play." In large green type is the word 'actors' in Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, and Telugu. Three copies of a horizontal flyer inviting East Asian and Southeast Asian men ages 20-50 to audition for an upcoming comedy. The reader is invited to contact director Paul Adasiak to ask about "Yoga Play." In large red type is the word 'actors' in Thai, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Tagalog, and Malay.
June 18, 2025 at 5:47 AM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
Hey, friendos — I plan not to be back as a contributor to Bluesky. For any of you who found value in my posts, I'm sorry. But social media brings out the worst in me, and I don't like the 'me' I see when I get seriously engaged. Those of you who followed me without muting have a lot of tolerance, and those who followed me on Bluesky after following me first on Twitter... man, shouldn't you have known better? Being away is hard! I like the Bluesky-teers (especially the Alaskan ones), but we have too much in common. The things that rouse your passions are the same things that rouse mine, so I usually come for the companionship and sympathetic vibes, but leave having worked myself into a murderous rage. Not good for my health. I lurk once in a while, but always leave before telling a fascist asshole that he is a fascist asshole. I love it when y'all post happy and interesting stuff. Great to see, keep it up! I don't miss the elevated blood pressure and heart rate, but I miss you folks and your interesting lives. Adieu!
June 15, 2025 at 1:12 AM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
oh, look, an asshat to block
Isaac Baranoff @isaacbaranoff.bsky.social You are retarded. White supremacists are collectivists. Individualism is literally the opposite of what white supremacy is, you stupid fuck. Pick up a fucking dictionary, you goddamn stupid mother fucker and stop trying to rewrite the English language, you fucking troglodyte.
December 17, 2024 at 5:41 AM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
'Innocent' is doing some pretty heavy lifting here.

I mean, how do you figure?
ChuSez ‪@chusez.bsky.social‬ You celebrate the vigilante murder of an innocent man. You are what shit wipes off of its shoes. December 15, 2024 at 2:33 PM
December 16, 2024 at 5:57 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
This, this! A thousand times, this!
Thomas Zimmer posts: The society the Right wants is one in which all structures of white male domination are revered as “colorblind meritocracy” while all attempts to dismantle these structures are outlawed as anti-white, anti-male discrimination because they acknowledge race and gender as organizing principles at all. Conservatives want a world that combines existing structures that discriminate by race and gender in all spheres of life with “race-blind” and “gender-neutral” selection processes (like hiring and admission practices) that pretend those structures don’t exist. They call the result “meritocracy.” They want to, as they put it, “take race and gender out” of the decision-making processes that determine access to avenues of wealth generation and upward social mobility, but not out of any of the systems that define life in America – a very effective way of keeping the status quo intact.
December 15, 2024 at 9:48 PM
amicusthespis.bsky.social
I rarely ditch a play halfway through. But DEFILED, OR, THE CONVENIENCE OF A SHORT-HAIRED DOG (2000) by Lee Kalcheim is a comedy-drama about a librarian who threatens to blow up his metropolitam library b/c they're throwing out his beloved card catalog.
AND I CANNOT STOMACH THAT SHIT
#TheaterBSKY
Orange paperback book reading: DEFILED or The Convenience of a Short-Haired Dog, A Play by Lee Kalcheim, [published by] Samuel French
December 15, 2024 at 6:31 PM