A take that ages like fine milk

Of course some readers just won’t enjoy this or that book with an irredeemable protagonist, no matter how clever or nuanced or meta the presentation is. That’s totally legit. (I named three that I admire, but there are certainly others I don’t like.) (3/3)

And in others, the genius lies in making it completely ambiguous whether the character is redeemable or not, so that different readers draw different conclusions based on their own biases and experiences (e.g. We Need to Talk About Kevin) (2/3)

I’ve been thinking about this comment all morning. Some great books have irredeemable protagonists, where the genius lies in making you root for them anyway (e.g. The Talented Mr Ripley) or making them fascinating even though you root against them entirely (e.g. The Sea, The Sea). (1/3)

This was an actual Black Mirror episode.

If it weren't for the "hits himself in balls with skateboard" video, this would be the funniest clip of Hegseth I've ever seen

Dying won't stop the emails, if what I saw the last time I logged into my mother's phone is any indicator.

My current ms used to have a lovely first sentence that I adored. But in response to (entirely correct) R&R feedback I replaced the opening scene, and have not yet managed to find as a great a first sentence.

*Martin Luther has entered the chat*

Feel important, yes, and also victimized -- I need protection because I'm speaking the the to people who don't want you to hear it who therefore threaten my safety

Of course, but I think for the average GenX member the most salient Wallace Shawn references are “Inconcievable!” and the Grand Nagus

At today's company meeting of my usually rational, data-driven employer, our CEO showed metrics of GenAI adoption across our org -- N% of dev used Copilot this quarter! -- as if adoption is the goal in itself. Any impact on our *existing* metrics of productivity and quality, sir?

Ooh, now do unpopular Republican policies

The GOAT and her daughter

“Dithering performance” is a good one too. In the debate I saw Mamdani was solid and sharp, while Cuomo sounded desperate and entitled while childishly refusing to say his opponent’s name correctly.

I think the Post already ran this one

(A thought I had after iPhone's autocorrect utterly mangled a text message I was trying to write.)

That is all true — and, the scale of the protests sends a message to local and state leaders that they have public support to stand up to the regime.