Reposted by Andy Trask
The fact that we have super wealthy and extremely stupid people trying to set themselves up as new nobles has made historical nobility, which I only know from books, far more real to me. These people were not smart, they did not rule well, and rigid hierarchies of domination are very bad.
December 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM
The fact that we have super wealthy and extremely stupid people trying to set themselves up as new nobles has made historical nobility, which I only know from books, far more real to me. These people were not smart, they did not rule well, and rigid hierarchies of domination are very bad.
Yes. No great victim advocacy has ever been written in iambic pentameter.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=txLp...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=txLp...
December 9, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Yes. No great victim advocacy has ever been written in iambic pentameter.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=txLp...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=txLp...
So, so dark. So, so funny.
Will Arnett was on Conan and told a story about how Conan dealt with the death of his parents by accusing Jason Bateman of killing them. It’s so funny.
December 9, 2025 at 7:14 PM
So, so dark. So, so funny.
Reposted by Andy Trask
Historian here OTD a day that will live in infamy we need to point out that the reconstruction of Japan and Germany proved to be successful after WWII but the Reconstruction of the misbegotten Confederacy was brutally overthrown. We still live with the legacy of that history in the United States.
December 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Historian here OTD a day that will live in infamy we need to point out that the reconstruction of Japan and Germany proved to be successful after WWII but the Reconstruction of the misbegotten Confederacy was brutally overthrown. We still live with the legacy of that history in the United States.
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
December 8, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
Reposted by Andy Trask
once again, "the supreme court will act as a bunch of partisan republican hacks" is the single most accurate heuristic for predicting its behavior, putting any coherent legal theory to shame
because fuck you, that's why
because fuck you, that's why
December 4, 2025 at 11:19 PM
once again, "the supreme court will act as a bunch of partisan republican hacks" is the single most accurate heuristic for predicting its behavior, putting any coherent legal theory to shame
because fuck you, that's why
because fuck you, that's why
Reposted by Andy Trask
Same here.
Complex thinking requires clear writing.
Complex thinking requires clear writing.
this is my #1 advice to grad students: anyone can reproduce jargon; the bigger flex is being able to make the argument in straightforward prose. clarity is indicative of deep thought and engagement. even chatGPT can write word salad.
i strongly, strongly believe that good writing is downstream of clear thinking and a strong understanding of the subject matter at hand. without fail, tortured writing comes from writers who don’t know and can’t think clearly about anything.
December 3, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Same here.
Complex thinking requires clear writing.
Complex thinking requires clear writing.
Hot take: All but one of Shane Black’s movies are set at Christmas, but I’m not sure he’s ever made a Christmas movie.
November 28, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Hot take: All but one of Shane Black’s movies are set at Christmas, but I’m not sure he’s ever made a Christmas movie.
This is a true statement.
chow yun fat in A BETTER TOMORROW is the coolest a dude has ever looked on film
November 22, 2025 at 3:27 PM
This is a true statement.
Reposted by Andy Trask
Wonder why this scene looks so familiar...
#WildlifeWednesday 🐦🐕
#WildlifeWednesday 🐦🐕
November 5, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Wonder why this scene looks so familiar...
#WildlifeWednesday 🐦🐕
#WildlifeWednesday 🐦🐕
Reposted by Andy Trask
I have a very bad feeling about this...
October 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I have a very bad feeling about this...
Reposted by Andy Trask
Retired intelligence analysts confirm what the political scientists are telling us — and what the world outside is telling us — the goal of these people is the end of law, the end of democracy, and the end of a recognizable republic.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US ‘on a trajectory’ toward authoritarian rule, ex-officials warn
A network of former intelligence and security officers says democratic decline is accelerating under Trump’s rule
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Retired intelligence analysts confirm what the political scientists are telling us — and what the world outside is telling us — the goal of these people is the end of law, the end of democracy, and the end of a recognizable republic.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Andy Trask
Me 10 years ago: You know people are always calling political opponents Nazis even if they aren’t anything like Nazis, I wish that would stop
Monkey‘s paw:
Monkey‘s paw:
October 21, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Me 10 years ago: You know people are always calling political opponents Nazis even if they aren’t anything like Nazis, I wish that would stop
Monkey‘s paw:
Monkey‘s paw:
Solid summary character stuff.
The four aspects of a great character are the Need, the Want, the Ghost, and the Lie.
A Want is their conscious desire.
A Need is what they really want but might not know.
A Lie is the thing they believe that keeps them from that Need.
A Ghost is that spiritual wound that caused the Lie.
A Want is their conscious desire.
A Need is what they really want but might not know.
A Lie is the thing they believe that keeps them from that Need.
A Ghost is that spiritual wound that caused the Lie.
October 21, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Solid summary character stuff.
Reposted by Andy Trask
Not the point, I know, but couldn't the Post have had a reporter walk over and take a look?
"...according to a photo shared with The Washington Post and two people who witnessed the activity and spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe it."
wapo.st/4hqBNiU
"...according to a photo shared with The Washington Post and two people who witnessed the activity and spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe it."
wapo.st/4hqBNiU
White House begins demolishing East Wing facade to build Trump’s ballroom
The president had claimed construction of the $250 million ballroom wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure.
wapo.st
October 20, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Not the point, I know, but couldn't the Post have had a reporter walk over and take a look?
"...according to a photo shared with The Washington Post and two people who witnessed the activity and spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe it."
wapo.st/4hqBNiU
"...according to a photo shared with The Washington Post and two people who witnessed the activity and spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe it."
wapo.st/4hqBNiU
This is the genius of the suits.
CNN talking about the possibility of violence as a guy in a giraffe costume waddles by
October 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This is the genius of the suits.
Reposted by Andy Trask
From the Nobel Committee today:
“Democracy depends on people who refuse to stay silent, who dare to step forward despite grave risk, and who remind us that freedom must never be taken for granted, but must always be defended – with words, with courage and with determination.”
“Democracy depends on people who refuse to stay silent, who dare to step forward despite grave risk, and who remind us that freedom must never be taken for granted, but must always be defended – with words, with courage and with determination.”
October 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
From the Nobel Committee today:
“Democracy depends on people who refuse to stay silent, who dare to step forward despite grave risk, and who remind us that freedom must never be taken for granted, but must always be defended – with words, with courage and with determination.”
“Democracy depends on people who refuse to stay silent, who dare to step forward despite grave risk, and who remind us that freedom must never be taken for granted, but must always be defended – with words, with courage and with determination.”
THE WIRE, Season 5
There's not a serial killer in Houston. But it's much easier to imagine there is than to confront the real problems in Houston that are harder to solve: Homelessness, mental health crises, and addiction. Wrote about that, urban crime panics and more:
www.chron.com/culture/arti...
www.chron.com/culture/arti...
Why do people want there to be a serial killer in Houston?
It's easy to chase imaginary killers. It's much harder to solve the real reason for bodies in our bayous.
www.chron.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:12 PM
THE WIRE, Season 5
ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL (2022) is a delight, about how school CAN be a haven for bookish kids trying to understand a cruel world, but only if you work to keep the bullies out. It’s funny, well-shot, and full of bangers. More children should be revolting.
September 19, 2025 at 9:38 PM
ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL (2022) is a delight, about how school CAN be a haven for bookish kids trying to understand a cruel world, but only if you work to keep the bullies out. It’s funny, well-shot, and full of bangers. More children should be revolting.
Reposted by Andy Trask
OMG - the judge in Florida just sua sponte struck the complaint in the Trump v NYT case for -wait for it - violating Rule 8.
Lawyers, tell the folks at home how hard it is to get the complaint struck outright for something like that in fed eral court.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Lawyers, tell the folks at home how hard it is to get the complaint struck outright for something like that in fed eral court.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
September 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
OMG - the judge in Florida just sua sponte struck the complaint in the Trump v NYT case for -wait for it - violating Rule 8.
Lawyers, tell the folks at home how hard it is to get the complaint struck outright for something like that in fed eral court.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Lawyers, tell the folks at home how hard it is to get the complaint struck outright for something like that in fed eral court.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
LEGALLY BLONDE (2001) kind of nails law school, except for the presence of Reese Witherspoon. But the rest of it: the status anxiety, the positioning, the stress, the drab clothing, yeah. That was all real. I feel seen. Or attacked. One of those. #SchoolMovie
September 19, 2025 at 1:14 AM
LEGALLY BLONDE (2001) kind of nails law school, except for the presence of Reese Witherspoon. But the rest of it: the status anxiety, the positioning, the stress, the drab clothing, yeah. That was all real. I feel seen. Or attacked. One of those. #SchoolMovie
KUNG FU PANDA (2008) follows panda and kung-fu fanboy Po as he joins Master Shifu’s dojo and learns a style of kung fu that will save the Valley of Peace and defeat the ambitious Tai Fung. Yes- a dojo is a school. Shut up. And it has a good message about the love of learning. #SchoolMovie
September 17, 2025 at 11:33 PM
KUNG FU PANDA (2008) follows panda and kung-fu fanboy Po as he joins Master Shifu’s dojo and learns a style of kung fu that will save the Valley of Peace and defeat the ambitious Tai Fung. Yes- a dojo is a school. Shut up. And it has a good message about the love of learning. #SchoolMovie
Post a movie you like with a terrible rotten tomatoes score
September 17, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Post a movie you like with a terrible rotten tomatoes score
Reposted by Andy Trask
people have already mentioned SNEAKERs, THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR and of course ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN as great redford performances, let me recommend THE CANDIDATE, which is really one of the best movies ever made about american politics
September 16, 2025 at 6:05 PM
people have already mentioned SNEAKERs, THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR and of course ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN as great redford performances, let me recommend THE CANDIDATE, which is really one of the best movies ever made about american politics
THE HISTORY BOYS (2006) follows a group of grammar-school (high school) boys as they prepare for their Oxbridge (Oxford & Cambridge) scholarship interviews. They have to cope with lecherous teachers, results-driven headmasters, and a whole lot of pressure. It’s incisive and funny. #SchoolMovie
September 16, 2025 at 5:12 PM
THE HISTORY BOYS (2006) follows a group of grammar-school (high school) boys as they prepare for their Oxbridge (Oxford & Cambridge) scholarship interviews. They have to cope with lecherous teachers, results-driven headmasters, and a whole lot of pressure. It’s incisive and funny. #SchoolMovie