CarrieLynn D. Reinhard, PhD
@doctorcarrie.bsky.social
Professor, Applied Communication, Sensemaking Studies, and Communication Literacy, Dickinson State University.
Posts do not reflect DSU or NDUS.
All I want for Christmas is the downfall of fascism around the world.
www.playingwithresearch.com
Posts do not reflect DSU or NDUS.
All I want for Christmas is the downfall of fascism around the world.
www.playingwithresearch.com
Also, in thinking about it, my research into political fandom, which combines affect studies, fan studies, economics, and political science...
December 8, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Also, in thinking about it, my research into political fandom, which combines affect studies, fan studies, economics, and political science...
Just finished it!
December 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Just finished it!
my ears, my mind, my heart, my soul.
I felt the emotions radiating into me. I saw flashes of Trump, Putin, Jong Un, Xi, Bolsonaro, Ahmadzai, dos Santos, Lukashenko, and others I couldn't identify.
And, I could feel myself smiling, happy and in love.
/end
I felt the emotions radiating into me. I saw flashes of Trump, Putin, Jong Un, Xi, Bolsonaro, Ahmadzai, dos Santos, Lukashenko, and others I couldn't identify.
And, I could feel myself smiling, happy and in love.
/end
December 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
my ears, my mind, my heart, my soul.
I felt the emotions radiating into me. I saw flashes of Trump, Putin, Jong Un, Xi, Bolsonaro, Ahmadzai, dos Santos, Lukashenko, and others I couldn't identify.
And, I could feel myself smiling, happy and in love.
/end
I felt the emotions radiating into me. I saw flashes of Trump, Putin, Jong Un, Xi, Bolsonaro, Ahmadzai, dos Santos, Lukashenko, and others I couldn't identify.
And, I could feel myself smiling, happy and in love.
/end
do more than stare, unseeing, inhuman at me.
And then, once more with a burst of speed, he was on me.
And this time, my scream was swallowed by darkness.
***
When I woke, I wasn't really awake. But I felt the pulses entering my body. I felt the computer screen, screaming noise at my eyes...
And then, once more with a burst of speed, he was on me.
And this time, my scream was swallowed by darkness.
***
When I woke, I wasn't really awake. But I felt the pulses entering my body. I felt the computer screen, screaming noise at my eyes...
December 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
do more than stare, unseeing, inhuman at me.
And then, once more with a burst of speed, he was on me.
And this time, my scream was swallowed by darkness.
***
When I woke, I wasn't really awake. But I felt the pulses entering my body. I felt the computer screen, screaming noise at my eyes...
And then, once more with a burst of speed, he was on me.
And this time, my scream was swallowed by darkness.
***
When I woke, I wasn't really awake. But I felt the pulses entering my body. I felt the computer screen, screaming noise at my eyes...
stopped writhing. I was nearly at the door when I noticed and looked up.
To see him now sitting on the island. Staring at me.
I must've slashed his check, because it gaped open, oozing green that wiggled and wriggled as it met the air.
And never did that smile falter. Never did those dark eyes
To see him now sitting on the island. Staring at me.
I must've slashed his check, because it gaped open, oozing green that wiggled and wriggled as it met the air.
And never did that smile falter. Never did those dark eyes
December 8, 2025 at 3:59 PM
stopped writhing. I was nearly at the door when I noticed and looked up.
To see him now sitting on the island. Staring at me.
I must've slashed his check, because it gaped open, oozing green that wiggled and wriggled as it met the air.
And never did that smile falter. Never did those dark eyes
To see him now sitting on the island. Staring at me.
I must've slashed his check, because it gaped open, oozing green that wiggled and wriggled as it met the air.
And never did that smile falter. Never did those dark eyes
against the kitchen island. Writhing, he cast the charcuterie everywhere. Still brandishing the knife, a slipped along the counters, inching towards the door. Only when I was close to the door did I see the green ocher dripping off the cheese knife.
Pausing to contemplate it, I missed when he...
Pausing to contemplate it, I missed when he...
December 8, 2025 at 3:58 PM
against the kitchen island. Writhing, he cast the charcuterie everywhere. Still brandishing the knife, a slipped along the counters, inching towards the door. Only when I was close to the door did I see the green ocher dripping off the cheese knife.
Pausing to contemplate it, I missed when he...
Pausing to contemplate it, I missed when he...
lashed out.
I felt the blade contact something and slice, tear, through what had been flesh. Maybe it still was, but never have I sliced through flesh so wet before.
He screamed. Deep, wet, angry.
I felt the pressure of his presence disappear and opened an eye.
He had collapsed backwards...
I felt the blade contact something and slice, tear, through what had been flesh. Maybe it still was, but never have I sliced through flesh so wet before.
He screamed. Deep, wet, angry.
I felt the pressure of his presence disappear and opened an eye.
He had collapsed backwards...
December 8, 2025 at 3:56 PM
lashed out.
I felt the blade contact something and slice, tear, through what had been flesh. Maybe it still was, but never have I sliced through flesh so wet before.
He screamed. Deep, wet, angry.
I felt the pressure of his presence disappear and opened an eye.
He had collapsed backwards...
I felt the blade contact something and slice, tear, through what had been flesh. Maybe it still was, but never have I sliced through flesh so wet before.
He screamed. Deep, wet, angry.
I felt the pressure of his presence disappear and opened an eye.
He had collapsed backwards...
Heavier. Something more lethal than this cheese knife.
Too late. The shuffling stopped. And he peered around the doorway at me.
"Come now, Doctor. Don't you want to play?"
With a sudden burst, he lunged at me, flying over the island between us.
Finally able to scream, I closed my eyes and just
Too late. The shuffling stopped. And he peered around the doorway at me.
"Come now, Doctor. Don't you want to play?"
With a sudden burst, he lunged at me, flying over the island between us.
Finally able to scream, I closed my eyes and just
December 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Heavier. Something more lethal than this cheese knife.
Too late. The shuffling stopped. And he peered around the doorway at me.
"Come now, Doctor. Don't you want to play?"
With a sudden burst, he lunged at me, flying over the island between us.
Finally able to scream, I closed my eyes and just
Too late. The shuffling stopped. And he peered around the doorway at me.
"Come now, Doctor. Don't you want to play?"
With a sudden burst, he lunged at me, flying over the island between us.
Finally able to scream, I closed my eyes and just
Then I heard his footsteps. Shuffling. Taking their time. Why should he hurry?
I backed away from the kitchen island. Keeping the knife held as high as my trembling allowed in my right hand, I started fumbling behind me. Opening drawers. Looking for something more. Something bigger. Sharper.
I backed away from the kitchen island. Keeping the knife held as high as my trembling allowed in my right hand, I started fumbling behind me. Opening drawers. Looking for something more. Something bigger. Sharper.
December 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Then I heard his footsteps. Shuffling. Taking their time. Why should he hurry?
I backed away from the kitchen island. Keeping the knife held as high as my trembling allowed in my right hand, I started fumbling behind me. Opening drawers. Looking for something more. Something bigger. Sharper.
I backed away from the kitchen island. Keeping the knife held as high as my trembling allowed in my right hand, I started fumbling behind me. Opening drawers. Looking for something more. Something bigger. Sharper.
To the cheese knife I remembered using to cut through the expensive hard cheese he probably smuggled back from France.
I clutched it, brandishing this 3-inch blade as if it was Excalibur itself.
For moments all I heard was my pounding chest, the blood roaring in my ears.
I clutched it, brandishing this 3-inch blade as if it was Excalibur itself.
For moments all I heard was my pounding chest, the blood roaring in my ears.
December 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
To the cheese knife I remembered using to cut through the expensive hard cheese he probably smuggled back from France.
I clutched it, brandishing this 3-inch blade as if it was Excalibur itself.
For moments all I heard was my pounding chest, the blood roaring in my ears.
I clutched it, brandishing this 3-inch blade as if it was Excalibur itself.
For moments all I heard was my pounding chest, the blood roaring in my ears.
The wiggling, wriggling "things" at the corners of that smile.
I tried to scream but nothing came out. But, when he was mere steps away, my feet unfroze.
I turned and ran.
Not to the door. I remembered, somehow, it was locked.
I ran to the kitchen island. To the charcuterie board.
I tried to scream but nothing came out. But, when he was mere steps away, my feet unfroze.
I turned and ran.
Not to the door. I remembered, somehow, it was locked.
I ran to the kitchen island. To the charcuterie board.
December 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The wiggling, wriggling "things" at the corners of that smile.
I tried to scream but nothing came out. But, when he was mere steps away, my feet unfroze.
I turned and ran.
Not to the door. I remembered, somehow, it was locked.
I ran to the kitchen island. To the charcuterie board.
I tried to scream but nothing came out. But, when he was mere steps away, my feet unfroze.
I turned and ran.
Not to the door. I remembered, somehow, it was locked.
I ran to the kitchen island. To the charcuterie board.
He took a step towards me, and I flinched, but otherwise couldn't move.
"He said he'd help me to my experiment," he continued, slurring his words, but not from any alcohol or drug I knew. "I'm dying, Doctor. A few months left. But I need to know. I must know before I go."
Then I saw, so small...
"He said he'd help me to my experiment," he continued, slurring his words, but not from any alcohol or drug I knew. "I'm dying, Doctor. A few months left. But I need to know. I must know before I go."
Then I saw, so small...
December 8, 2025 at 2:43 PM
He took a step towards me, and I flinched, but otherwise couldn't move.
"He said he'd help me to my experiment," he continued, slurring his words, but not from any alcohol or drug I knew. "I'm dying, Doctor. A few months left. But I need to know. I must know before I go."
Then I saw, so small...
"He said he'd help me to my experiment," he continued, slurring his words, but not from any alcohol or drug I knew. "I'm dying, Doctor. A few months left. But I need to know. I must know before I go."
Then I saw, so small...
I stopped, eyes wide.
A few steps ahead, he also stopped.
Without turning, he said: "You don't like whiskey, 'Doctor'?"
Oh the hateful sarcasm that dripped out of "Doctor"...
He turned. Still that wide, mirthless smile. Dead eyes. A darker blue than I remembered. His white skin paler, greener.
A few steps ahead, he also stopped.
Without turning, he said: "You don't like whiskey, 'Doctor'?"
Oh the hateful sarcasm that dripped out of "Doctor"...
He turned. Still that wide, mirthless smile. Dead eyes. A darker blue than I remembered. His white skin paler, greener.
December 8, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I stopped, eyes wide.
A few steps ahead, he also stopped.
Without turning, he said: "You don't like whiskey, 'Doctor'?"
Oh the hateful sarcasm that dripped out of "Doctor"...
He turned. Still that wide, mirthless smile. Dead eyes. A darker blue than I remembered. His white skin paler, greener.
A few steps ahead, he also stopped.
Without turning, he said: "You don't like whiskey, 'Doctor'?"
Oh the hateful sarcasm that dripped out of "Doctor"...
He turned. Still that wide, mirthless smile. Dead eyes. A darker blue than I remembered. His white skin paler, greener.
Heh, worse...
December 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Heh, worse...
cords, fresh from the womb and pulsating rhythmically.
And since when did a poli sci full, tenured professor whose work focused on economics in developing country use physiological measurements in his work?
And since when did a poli sci full, tenured professor whose work focused on economics in developing country use physiological measurements in his work?
December 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
cords, fresh from the womb and pulsating rhythmically.
And since when did a poli sci full, tenured professor whose work focused on economics in developing country use physiological measurements in his work?
And since when did a poli sci full, tenured professor whose work focused on economics in developing country use physiological measurements in his work?
And each door led to a room. All the same size. And in each room sat a colleague, at a computer in front of them, and a series of attachments connecting the two.
I'd seen enough physiological measurements in lab experiments to know what to expect.
None of those attachments looked like umbilical...
I'd seen enough physiological measurements in lab experiments to know what to expect.
None of those attachments looked like umbilical...
December 8, 2025 at 1:56 PM
And each door led to a room. All the same size. And in each room sat a colleague, at a computer in front of them, and a series of attachments connecting the two.
I'd seen enough physiological measurements in lab experiments to know what to expect.
None of those attachments looked like umbilical...
I'd seen enough physiological measurements in lab experiments to know what to expect.
None of those attachments looked like umbilical...
inched toward him. He turned and led me down a hallway. I'd been down here before, for the bathroom.
When did it change? And how? Was this another rich-person thing?
The hallway was now glass, and every so often was a glass door. No signs of locks, but I had no doubt each was like the front foor.
When did it change? And how? Was this another rich-person thing?
The hallway was now glass, and every so often was a glass door. No signs of locks, but I had no doubt each was like the front foor.
December 8, 2025 at 1:54 PM
inched toward him. He turned and led me down a hallway. I'd been down here before, for the bathroom.
When did it change? And how? Was this another rich-person thing?
The hallway was now glass, and every so often was a glass door. No signs of locks, but I had no doubt each was like the front foor.
When did it change? And how? Was this another rich-person thing?
The hallway was now glass, and every so often was a glass door. No signs of locks, but I had no doubt each was like the front foor.
Rich people that live in high-rises are paranoid. Of course they would have automatically locked doors. They think everyone is out to get their ill-gotten gains.
I swigged some whiskey. To calm the nerves, they say, although all it did was burn my mouth, throat, stomach in slow-motion as I...
I swigged some whiskey. To calm the nerves, they say, although all it did was burn my mouth, throat, stomach in slow-motion as I...
December 8, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Rich people that live in high-rises are paranoid. Of course they would have automatically locked doors. They think everyone is out to get their ill-gotten gains.
I swigged some whiskey. To calm the nerves, they say, although all it did was burn my mouth, throat, stomach in slow-motion as I...
I swigged some whiskey. To calm the nerves, they say, although all it did was burn my mouth, throat, stomach in slow-motion as I...
When his eyes fell on me, he smiled, but the smile was dead. Plastered on a face empty of any mirth.
He beckoned me to follow. My eyes flickered to the locked door, preventing escape. And I couldn't leave my friend there.
Maybe the door just automatically locked. Rich people do that, right?
He beckoned me to follow. My eyes flickered to the locked door, preventing escape. And I couldn't leave my friend there.
Maybe the door just automatically locked. Rich people do that, right?
December 8, 2025 at 1:49 PM
When his eyes fell on me, he smiled, but the smile was dead. Plastered on a face empty of any mirth.
He beckoned me to follow. My eyes flickered to the locked door, preventing escape. And I couldn't leave my friend there.
Maybe the door just automatically locked. Rich people do that, right?
He beckoned me to follow. My eyes flickered to the locked door, preventing escape. And I couldn't leave my friend there.
Maybe the door just automatically locked. Rich people do that, right?
footsteps and literally jumped away from the door, spilling high-value whiskey that had been shoved in my hand upon arriving and had sat there untouched since.
I tried to continue nibbling on my app, hoping it didn't betray my shaking hand, as my colleague exited the hallway, looking for me.
I tried to continue nibbling on my app, hoping it didn't betray my shaking hand, as my colleague exited the hallway, looking for me.
December 8, 2025 at 1:46 PM
footsteps and literally jumped away from the door, spilling high-value whiskey that had been shoved in my hand upon arriving and had sat there untouched since.
I tried to continue nibbling on my app, hoping it didn't betray my shaking hand, as my colleague exited the hallway, looking for me.
I tried to continue nibbling on my app, hoping it didn't betray my shaking hand, as my colleague exited the hallway, looking for me.
I made some observations to my friend, but then he was led off to a room, and I looked around in thr low light, hearing nothing. Acting nonchalantly, I went to the door, only to find it looked. Electronically? Perhaps wirelessly...
Red flags flapping loudly in my head, I whipped around when I heard
Red flags flapping loudly in my head, I whipped around when I heard
December 8, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I made some observations to my friend, but then he was led off to a room, and I looked around in thr low light, hearing nothing. Acting nonchalantly, I went to the door, only to find it looked. Electronically? Perhaps wirelessly...
Red flags flapping loudly in my head, I whipped around when I heard
Red flags flapping loudly in my head, I whipped around when I heard
Then the guy wanted to play games. I really was not in the mood and loitering behind as people were lead off to separate rooms. I started to wonder how many rooms this place had. There were like a dozen people there. No swanky apartment had that many different rooms.
Red flags started to tickle me.
Red flags started to tickle me.
December 8, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Then the guy wanted to play games. I really was not in the mood and loitering behind as people were lead off to separate rooms. I started to wonder how many rooms this place had. There were like a dozen people there. No swanky apartment had that many different rooms.
Red flags started to tickle me.
Red flags started to tickle me.
And the amount of elite snobbery is off the chart. Everything seems set up to belittle us junior, non-tenure-track faculty. The apps were small and slow to come. No idea about when the dinner of the dinner party would start. My friend and I eyed the sycophantic actions warmly, nibbling on apps.
December 8, 2025 at 1:40 PM
And the amount of elite snobbery is off the chart. Everything seems set up to belittle us junior, non-tenure-track faculty. The apps were small and slow to come. No idea about when the dinner of the dinner party would start. My friend and I eyed the sycophantic actions warmly, nibbling on apps.