@cavantuam.bsky.social
But for what it's worth, the story that had me most engaged, with my heart racing as I realized what was going on and the author's clever, emotional technique, was "Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain." A propulsive and affecting near-masterpiece. Great stuff.
December 22, 2025 at 12:42 AM
But for what it's worth, the story that had me most engaged, with my heart racing as I realized what was going on and the author's clever, emotional technique, was "Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain." A propulsive and affecting near-masterpiece. Great stuff.
I just wanted to say that I belatedly bought the New Yorker 100th anniversary short story book from earlier this year. It is wonderful. Many classic stories that I already knew, and lots of great surprises from new voices (to me).
December 22, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I just wanted to say that I belatedly bought the New Yorker 100th anniversary short story book from earlier this year. It is wonderful. Many classic stories that I already knew, and lots of great surprises from new voices (to me).
The recommendations from Rosenbaum and O'Neill sealed it for me.
December 21, 2025 at 11:51 PM
The recommendations from Rosenbaum and O'Neill sealed it for me.
And then she makes turn and ties all this into why the Trump fascist aesthetic is so compelling. Plus Edmund Burke. There is a lot of easy, reflexive trollish commentary out there these days, but this actually said something thoughtful and new. Very well done.
December 21, 2025 at 12:50 AM
And then she makes turn and ties all this into why the Trump fascist aesthetic is so compelling. Plus Edmund Burke. There is a lot of easy, reflexive trollish commentary out there these days, but this actually said something thoughtful and new. Very well done.
This video is tremendous. I am not familiar with Ms. Cox, but I thought this was just going to be some snark about that terrible OU essay (low-hanging fruit), but it quickly expanded to be much more. I learned a lot -- the uses of intentional, skilled "bad art" (Da Vinci, Guston, Bosch) . . .
December 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
This video is tremendous. I am not familiar with Ms. Cox, but I thought this was just going to be some snark about that terrible OU essay (low-hanging fruit), but it quickly expanded to be much more. I learned a lot -- the uses of intentional, skilled "bad art" (Da Vinci, Guston, Bosch) . . .
I don't know you people but this thread is hilarious. Thx!
December 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I don't know you people but this thread is hilarious. Thx!
Proton Drive
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December 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM
And despite Elaine's kindness, the narrator sometimes wonders about her motivations. He even starts to suspect she may have foreign ties . . .
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the Berlin, NH municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside --
7/8
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the Berlin, NH municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside --
7/8
December 20, 2025 at 6:13 PM
And despite Elaine's kindness, the narrator sometimes wonders about her motivations. He even starts to suspect she may have foreign ties . . .
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the Berlin, NH municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside --
7/8
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the Berlin, NH municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside --
7/8
The preparations are complicated by the fact that the narrator, after watching clips of Ambassador Haley and reading her books, has developed an admiration for her. He comes to believe that she will answer the question boldly, forthrightly, and help heal America. 6/8
December 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
The preparations are complicated by the fact that the narrator, after watching clips of Ambassador Haley and reading her books, has developed an admiration for her. He comes to believe that she will answer the question boldly, forthrightly, and help heal America. 6/8
The leader of the conspirators is Elaine, a patriotic political operator who is very kind to the narrator, even when he stammers during the practices and often has trouble remembering the question. 5/8
December 20, 2025 at 6:10 PM
The leader of the conspirators is Elaine, a patriotic political operator who is very kind to the narrator, even when he stammers during the practices and often has trouble remembering the question. 5/8
The excerpt below comes near the end. In the previous pages, the narrator has been recruited by the conspirators to ask their question. They have practiced for several weeks to make certain that the narrator (a nervous individual who did not previously follow politics) won't mess it up. 4/8
December 20, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The excerpt below comes near the end. In the previous pages, the narrator has been recruited by the conspirators to ask their question. They have practiced for several weeks to make certain that the narrator (a nervous individual who did not previously follow politics) won't mess it up. 4/8
After the event, Ambassador Haley explained that the questioner must have been a "Democrat plant" sent by top party officials or left-leaning celebrities. The media mocked her for this conspiracy theory. But it turns out that she was correct! 3/8
December 20, 2025 at 6:08 PM
After the event, Ambassador Haley explained that the questioner must have been a "Democrat plant" sent by top party officials or left-leaning celebrities. The media mocked her for this conspiracy theory. But it turns out that she was correct! 3/8
By the way, here's an excerpt from a short story based on that night. It tries to show how things have gone so wrong for us in the past several decades. We didn't get here by accident.
Haley's calculated dissembling was a pretty good example of ambitious politicians lying to gain power. 2/8
Haley's calculated dissembling was a pretty good example of ambitious politicians lying to gain power. 2/8
December 20, 2025 at 6:05 PM
By the way, here's an excerpt from a short story based on that night. It tries to show how things have gone so wrong for us in the past several decades. We didn't get here by accident.
Haley's calculated dissembling was a pretty good example of ambitious politicians lying to gain power. 2/8
Haley's calculated dissembling was a pretty good example of ambitious politicians lying to gain power. 2/8
Ha! The only good town halls are when the questions are completely unfiltered. Like when Nikki Haley was asked in New Hampshire last year to name the cause of the Civil War, and she declined to mention slavery. 1/8
December 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Ha! The only good town halls are when the questions are completely unfiltered. Like when Nikki Haley was asked in New Hampshire last year to name the cause of the Civil War, and she declined to mention slavery. 1/8
Proton Drive
Securely store, share, and access your important files and photos. Anytime, anywhere.
drive.proton.me
December 19, 2025 at 2:46 AM
And despite Elaine's kindness, the narrator sometimes wonders about the motivations of the conspirators . . .
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside --
6/7
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside --
6/7
December 19, 2025 at 2:45 AM
And despite Elaine's kindness, the narrator sometimes wonders about the motivations of the conspirators . . .
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside --
6/7
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside --
6/7
The practices are complicated by the fact that the narrator, after watching clips of Ambassador Haley and reading her books, has developed an admiration for her. He comes to believe that she will answer the question boldly, forthrightly, and help heal America. 6/7
December 19, 2025 at 2:44 AM
The practices are complicated by the fact that the narrator, after watching clips of Ambassador Haley and reading her books, has developed an admiration for her. He comes to believe that she will answer the question boldly, forthrightly, and help heal America. 6/7
The leader of the conspirators is Elaine, a patriotic political operator who is very kind to the narrator, even when he stammers and has trouble remembering the question. 5/7
December 19, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The leader of the conspirators is Elaine, a patriotic political operator who is very kind to the narrator, even when he stammers and has trouble remembering the question. 5/7
The excerpt below comes near the end. In the previous pages, the narrator has been recruited by the conspirators to ask their question. They have practiced for several weeks to make certain that the narrator (a nervous individual who did not previously follow politics) won't mess it up. 4/7
December 19, 2025 at 2:42 AM
The excerpt below comes near the end. In the previous pages, the narrator has been recruited by the conspirators to ask their question. They have practiced for several weeks to make certain that the narrator (a nervous individual who did not previously follow politics) won't mess it up. 4/7
After the event, Ambassador Haley explained that the questioner must have been a "Democrat plant" sent by top party officials or left-leaning celebrities. The media mocked her for this conspiracy theory. But it turns out that she was correct! 3/7
December 19, 2025 at 2:41 AM
After the event, Ambassador Haley explained that the questioner must have been a "Democrat plant" sent by top party officials or left-leaning celebrities. The media mocked her for this conspiracy theory. But it turns out that she was correct! 3/7
. . had with a voter last year in New Hampshire. Ambassador Haley was asked to name the cause of the Civil War, and she declined to mention slavery. Although she left the race soon afterwards, the exchange was an example of how the ambitious will lie if they think it will increase their power.2/7
December 19, 2025 at 2:41 AM
. . had with a voter last year in New Hampshire. Ambassador Haley was asked to name the cause of the Civil War, and she declined to mention slavery. Although she left the race soon afterwards, the exchange was an example of how the ambitious will lie if they think it will increase their power.2/7
It was bad. But sometimes town halls can be illuminating. Here's an excerpt from a despairing story about our damaged politics and the hypocrisy of our leaders. We didn't get here by accident.
The narrative is inspired by an exchange Nikki Haley (remember her?) . . . 1/7
The narrative is inspired by an exchange Nikki Haley (remember her?) . . . 1/7
December 19, 2025 at 2:40 AM
It was bad. But sometimes town halls can be illuminating. Here's an excerpt from a despairing story about our damaged politics and the hypocrisy of our leaders. We didn't get here by accident.
The narrative is inspired by an exchange Nikki Haley (remember her?) . . . 1/7
The narrative is inspired by an exchange Nikki Haley (remember her?) . . . 1/7
Proton Drive
Securely store, share, and access your important files and photos. Anytime, anywhere.
drive.proton.me
December 19, 2025 at 2:23 AM
And despite Elaine's kindness, the narrator sometimes wonders about the motivations of the conspirators . . .
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside -- 6/8
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside -- 6/8
December 19, 2025 at 2:20 AM
And despite Elaine's kindness, the narrator sometimes wonders about the motivations of the conspirators . . .
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside -- 6/8
The narrator is sitting in his car, looking across the parking lot at the municipal building, mustering the courage to go inside -- 6/8
The practices are complicated by the fact that the narrator, after watching clips of Ambassador Haley and reading her books, has developed an admiration for her. He comes to believe that she will answer the question boldly, forthrightly, and help heal America. 5/8
December 19, 2025 at 2:14 AM
The practices are complicated by the fact that the narrator, after watching clips of Ambassador Haley and reading her books, has developed an admiration for her. He comes to believe that she will answer the question boldly, forthrightly, and help heal America. 5/8