Grits for Breakfast
@gritsforbreakfast.bsky.social
Nom de plume of Scott Henson, Austin, TX. Cancer survivor, househusband, recovering policy wonk (justice systems, civil liberties; innocence). Retirement focus: TX negro-league baseball, female lion tamers. Zines: https://www.gfbpubs.com
After seeing several references to "Tanagra Theater" shows pre WWI -- they were projected, miniaturized images of human actors using mirrors -- I started down the rabbit hole to figure out how the hell they worked, and this is the best thing I've seen on it.
November 11, 2025 at 4:54 PM
After seeing several references to "Tanagra Theater" shows pre WWI -- they were projected, miniaturized images of human actors using mirrors -- I started down the rabbit hole to figure out how the hell they worked, and this is the best thing I've seen on it.
Polar bears were first featured in America as performers by the Carl Hagenbeck menagerie at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, trained by Johan Jacobsen. This is one of my favorite photos from that amazing and glorious spectacle.
November 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Polar bears were first featured in America as performers by the Carl Hagenbeck menagerie at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, trained by Johan Jacobsen. This is one of my favorite photos from that amazing and glorious spectacle.
The first woman *polar* bear trainer appears to have been Lillian Miller, performing as Mademoiselle Aurora, on Coney Island as early as 1898. See: www.thepolarbare.com/copy-of-the-...
November 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
The first woman *polar* bear trainer appears to have been Lillian Miller, performing as Mademoiselle Aurora, on Coney Island as early as 1898. See: www.thepolarbare.com/copy-of-the-...
I've mentioned how remarkable I find it that so many fragrance commercials these days feature big cats and themes of wild animal trainers and taming the wild beast. Now Dior has a whole circus-themed holiday campaign called "Circus of Dreams." www.dior.com/en_us/beauty...
November 11, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I've mentioned how remarkable I find it that so many fragrance commercials these days feature big cats and themes of wild animal trainers and taming the wild beast. Now Dior has a whole circus-themed holiday campaign called "Circus of Dreams." www.dior.com/en_us/beauty...
Bear at the circus. (This is Ursula Bottcher; she was braver and tougher than you.)
November 11, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Bear at the circus. (This is Ursula Bottcher; she was braver and tougher than you.)
New Circus Historical Society journal, "Bandwagon," came in the mail today, w/ a promising cover
November 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
New Circus Historical Society journal, "Bandwagon," came in the mail today, w/ a promising cover
Though an outsider and definitely not from a performing background, everyone I met was generous w/ their time/opinions, and I identified several new leads and resources from conversations there, so it was well worth going. My mini-zines were a big hit.
October 27, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Though an outsider and definitely not from a performing background, everyone I met was generous w/ their time/opinions, and I identified several new leads and resources from conversations there, so it was well worth going. My mini-zines were a big hit.
Early voting starts today. If you're in Austin, go vote for Prop Q, if only to thumb your nose at the Save-Austin-Now types. A lot of things are bad rn: Don't f*** things up worse out of ignorance and spite based on Republican talking points.
October 20, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Early voting starts today. If you're in Austin, go vote for Prop Q, if only to thumb your nose at the Save-Austin-Now types. A lot of things are bad rn: Don't f*** things up worse out of ignorance and spite based on Republican talking points.
Trump ran on "Drill, baby, drill," but in office, drove oil prices so low fracking operations became unprofitable and new production ceased. At this point, he's driving down stock prices, as investors bail on investments under attack (oil, homebuilding, regional trade) by administration policies. 🧵
October 20, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Trump ran on "Drill, baby, drill," but in office, drove oil prices so low fracking operations became unprofitable and new production ceased. At this point, he's driving down stock prices, as investors bail on investments under attack (oil, homebuilding, regional trade) by administration policies. 🧵
I would believe 7'7" www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
October 16, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I would believe 7'7" www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
I think of the America Firsters more as agents of a foreign agenda (admittedly a bit like Trump inexplicably pimping for Putin/Russia), but the Second Klan was a populist and authentic, if terrible and grotesque, expression of a political element that's being re-empowered in the current moment.
October 6, 2025 at 10:51 AM
I think of the America Firsters more as agents of a foreign agenda (admittedly a bit like Trump inexplicably pimping for Putin/Russia), but the Second Klan was a populist and authentic, if terrible and grotesque, expression of a political element that's being re-empowered in the current moment.
This is one of my core beliefs: When your friend runs for office, they are no longer your friend until they retire, as a matter of reality, practicality, and principle. Because this approach is uncommon, and to many, counterintuitive, as a reminder, I had the sentiment enshrined on a throw pillow.
October 4, 2025 at 8:41 PM
This is one of my core beliefs: When your friend runs for office, they are no longer your friend until they retire, as a matter of reality, practicality, and principle. Because this approach is uncommon, and to many, counterintuitive, as a reminder, I had the sentiment enshrined on a throw pillow.
Pretty darn good tiger puppet for the stage performance of Life of Pi at the Bass Concert Hall in Fort Worth. www.star-telegram.com/entertainmen...
September 24, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Pretty darn good tiger puppet for the stage performance of Life of Pi at the Bass Concert Hall in Fort Worth. www.star-telegram.com/entertainmen...
"I should get to tell lies w/o being called on it in the media." www.chron.com/politics/art...
September 23, 2025 at 11:54 AM
"I should get to tell lies w/o being called on it in the media." www.chron.com/politics/art...
We went to see Laufey last night at the Moody Center and she was SO good, but even more amazing was being in a room w/ 17k young ppl singing along to bossa nova tunes and girl-power jazz ballads, w/ many wearing homemade crowns or elaborate bows. Really fun evening.
September 22, 2025 at 12:44 PM
We went to see Laufey last night at the Moody Center and she was SO good, but even more amazing was being in a room w/ 17k young ppl singing along to bossa nova tunes and girl-power jazz ballads, w/ many wearing homemade crowns or elaborate bows. Really fun evening.
He certainly hopes we think so if he takes enough cringey photos w/ Dana White. I would not wear those glasses. These are my reading specs.
September 15, 2025 at 8:26 PM
He certainly hopes we think so if he takes enough cringey photos w/ Dana White. I would not wear those glasses. These are my reading specs.
Yeah, Barney was well-intentioned
September 12, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Yeah, Barney was well-intentioned
Entertainers have deployed these symbols of sex and power for generations. My personal favorite is Josephine Baker and her cheetah, Chiquita. But there are many examples. Even Mae West put her head in a lion's mouth.
September 9, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Entertainers have deployed these symbols of sex and power for generations. My personal favorite is Josephine Baker and her cheetah, Chiquita. But there are many examples. Even Mae West put her head in a lion's mouth.
From the editor and publisher of the Uvalde Leader-News following the July 4 floods. His paper is the only one in the whole state that's editorialized against HB 15 at the #txlege, which wd close records being sought by the families of the children who were murdered at Robb Elementary 3.5 years ago.
August 31, 2025 at 3:46 PM
From the editor and publisher of the Uvalde Leader-News following the July 4 floods. His paper is the only one in the whole state that's editorialized against HB 15 at the #txlege, which wd close records being sought by the families of the children who were murdered at Robb Elementary 3.5 years ago.
Same energy
August 30, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Same energy
I don't know state Rep. Don McLaughlin (R-Uvalde), but I sent him this email. I thought someone should say it and didn't now who else would:
August 29, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I don't know state Rep. Don McLaughlin (R-Uvalde), but I sent him this email. I thought someone should say it and didn't now who else would:
Post a random picture, or else everything will go bad in September.
August 29, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Post a random picture, or else everything will go bad in September.
