Matt Austin
@mattaust.in
Husband, Father, Christian, Nerd, Nationals Fan, Programmer, Amateur Photographer
https://mattaust.in
https://mattaust.in
“If the Devil don’t exist,” Athey said, “how do you explain that some people are a lot worse than they’re smart enough to be?” (JAYBER CROW, Wendell Berry)
January 7, 2026 at 4:19 AM
“If the Devil don’t exist,” Athey said, “how do you explain that some people are a lot worse than they’re smart enough to be?” (JAYBER CROW, Wendell Berry)
The streets
Are much narrower than we remembered; we had forgotten
The office was as depressing as this.
Are much narrower than we remembered; we had forgotten
The office was as depressing as this.
January 5, 2026 at 12:30 PM
The streets
Are much narrower than we remembered; we had forgotten
The office was as depressing as this.
Are much narrower than we remembered; we had forgotten
The office was as depressing as this.
Ordinarily, it would seem ridiculous that the winner of the Falcons (7-9) and Saints (6-10) game would determine which of the other two teams in the division wins the NFC South. But given that the other two teams are both under .500, I’d say they deserve it.
January 4, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Ordinarily, it would seem ridiculous that the winner of the Falcons (7-9) and Saints (6-10) game would determine which of the other two teams in the division wins the NFC South. But given that the other two teams are both under .500, I’d say they deserve it.
From the least to the greatest
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
January 3, 2026 at 5:53 PM
From the least to the greatest
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
Just watched the first episode of PLURIBUS, and it strikes me there’s some affinity with THE THIS early on. Different mechanisms, but definite overlap.
Closing it out, a friend has got me started on the DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL series, which is a fun popcorn snack. I’ll start book 3 in the new year.
Adam Robert’s’ THE THIS was also interesting, and I finished McMurtry’s LONESOME DOVE series. None quite lived up to the first but it was still solid.
Adam Robert’s’ THE THIS was also interesting, and I finished McMurtry’s LONESOME DOVE series. None quite lived up to the first but it was still solid.
January 2, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Just watched the first episode of PLURIBUS, and it strikes me there’s some affinity with THE THIS early on. Different mechanisms, but definite overlap.
Watched THE PRINCESS BRIDE with my oldest today. When did she get so big? (Inconceivable!)
January 1, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Watched THE PRINCESS BRIDE with my oldest today. When did she get so big? (Inconceivable!)
But I was hoping for “potato”
January 1, 2026 at 8:11 PM
But I was hoping for “potato”
Does any one else ever get a reply to a tweet (I’m not calling them skeets, that’s dumb) and your first thought is “How did you get this number?”
January 1, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Does any one else ever get a reply to a tweet (I’m not calling them skeets, that’s dumb) and your first thought is “How did you get this number?”
Spent the last hour plus moving firewood from the back of our yard to the not back of our yard. I like our trees, but I am kind of wondering when the next is to go so we can replenish. The last tree has lasted us six years, I want to say, and probably has another year and a half to go.
January 1, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Spent the last hour plus moving firewood from the back of our yard to the not back of our yard. I like our trees, but I am kind of wondering when the next is to go so we can replenish. The last tree has lasted us six years, I want to say, and probably has another year and a half to go.
So, sometime last year, maybe in April, Wordle finally used my starter word so I got it in one. I took that as an excuse to retire from it and literally have not played one since.
Should I restart in the new year and should I use a new word now?
Should I restart in the new year and should I use a new word now?
January 1, 2026 at 2:06 PM
So, sometime last year, maybe in April, Wordle finally used my starter word so I got it in one. I took that as an excuse to retire from it and literally have not played one since.
Should I restart in the new year and should I use a new word now?
Should I restart in the new year and should I use a new word now?
Am just now reminded that I was glad we got our puppy a little bit AFTER July 4, since I reasoned coming to a new home immediately followed by fireworks would be traumatic.
Consequently, tonight is our first night with her with fireworks. She does not appear to be a fan.
Consequently, tonight is our first night with her with fireworks. She does not appear to be a fan.
January 1, 2026 at 3:03 AM
Am just now reminded that I was glad we got our puppy a little bit AFTER July 4, since I reasoned coming to a new home immediately followed by fireworks would be traumatic.
Consequently, tonight is our first night with her with fireworks. She does not appear to be a fan.
Consequently, tonight is our first night with her with fireworks. She does not appear to be a fan.
Happy New Year from the coziest pup in all the land.
December 31, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Happy New Year from the coziest pup in all the land.
A brief reminder: I am not now (nor have I ever been) a rules analyst for ABC College Bowl Game coverage.
December 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
A brief reminder: I am not now (nor have I ever been) a rules analyst for ABC College Bowl Game coverage.
Among my favorites this year:
I CHEERFULLY REFUSE, by Leif Enger. Someone described it as a cozy dystopia, and I like that description. It’s about staying human in spite of whatever evils we find outside of our control.
JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL, by Susannah Clarke was tremendously fun.
I CHEERFULLY REFUSE, by Leif Enger. Someone described it as a cozy dystopia, and I like that description. It’s about staying human in spite of whatever evils we find outside of our control.
JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL, by Susannah Clarke was tremendously fun.
I read some great books this year but the one I keep thinking about and the one I am most likely to re-read is THE ANOMALY, by Herve lé Tellier.
We all read some bad books this year. I didn’t finish some and had to write negative reviews here and there. However, what I really want to hear about is the stuff that blew your mind, that made you think, that stayed with you. Tell me about the cool books you loved this year.
December 31, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Among my favorites this year:
I CHEERFULLY REFUSE, by Leif Enger. Someone described it as a cozy dystopia, and I like that description. It’s about staying human in spite of whatever evils we find outside of our control.
JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL, by Susannah Clarke was tremendously fun.
I CHEERFULLY REFUSE, by Leif Enger. Someone described it as a cozy dystopia, and I like that description. It’s about staying human in spite of whatever evils we find outside of our control.
JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL, by Susannah Clarke was tremendously fun.
I never (obviously) watched a trailer or looked into it in any way, but I always just assumed MARTY SUPREME was a Scorsese biopic.
December 29, 2025 at 9:26 PM
I never (obviously) watched a trailer or looked into it in any way, but I always just assumed MARTY SUPREME was a Scorsese biopic.
I put my phone in greyscale mode yesterday, mostly just because and I have to say, I don’t hate it.
December 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I put my phone in greyscale mode yesterday, mostly just because and I have to say, I don’t hate it.
“We have had way too much of 2025; it has left us, as a nation, lying face-down on the floor of despair, between the wastebasket of stupidity and the commode of broken dreams.”
Dave Barry’s Year in Review
open.substack.com/pub/davebarr...
Dave Barry’s Year in Review
open.substack.com/pub/davebarr...
The Year in Review
I am so sorry.
open.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
“We have had way too much of 2025; it has left us, as a nation, lying face-down on the floor of despair, between the wastebasket of stupidity and the commode of broken dreams.”
Dave Barry’s Year in Review
open.substack.com/pub/davebarr...
Dave Barry’s Year in Review
open.substack.com/pub/davebarr...
Has the Brendan Fraser Crane thread live-tweeting IT’S A WONDEFUL LIFE ever been airlifted here? Christmas watching almost isn’t complete without it.
December 26, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Has the Brendan Fraser Crane thread live-tweeting IT’S A WONDEFUL LIFE ever been airlifted here? Christmas watching almost isn’t complete without it.
The setting of Thomas Hardy’s “The Darkling Thrush” for King’s College’s Festival of Lessons & Carols tonight was really lovely.
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44325/...
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44325/...
December 25, 2025 at 3:54 AM
The setting of Thomas Hardy’s “The Darkling Thrush” for King’s College’s Festival of Lessons & Carols tonight was really lovely.
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44325/...
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44325/...
After all there’s only one more sleep till Christmas
December 25, 2025 at 3:47 AM
After all there’s only one more sleep till Christmas
And now the most important question. Which pierogi dough recipe did I use last year, because I really liked it.
December 24, 2025 at 3:56 AM
And now the most important question. Which pierogi dough recipe did I use last year, because I really liked it.
Reposted by Matt Austin
The 2025 Headline of the Year Nominees
🧵
🧵
December 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The 2025 Headline of the Year Nominees
🧵
🧵
Please let this win.
December 23, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Please let this win.
So many questions for Duck Duck Go, but mostly they start with "why do I still use this as a search engine?"
December 17, 2025 at 11:20 PM
So many questions for Duck Duck Go, but mostly they start with "why do I still use this as a search engine?"
Reposted by Matt Austin
Roughly 18 paragraphs into this the hair on my neck started to stand on end
defector.com/two-nights-p...
defector.com/two-nights-p...
Two Nights Playing With Fire At Patrick Mahomes And Travis Kelce's Steakhouse | Defector
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As celebrity restaurant mascots, athletes offer a tidy sense of vertical integration: Why not supply the very calories they need to expend on the field? I’m surprised there are so f...
defector.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Roughly 18 paragraphs into this the hair on my neck started to stand on end
defector.com/two-nights-p...
defector.com/two-nights-p...